Experienced media professional with a strong background in both digital and traditional media. Strategic and innovative thinker with the ability to take responsibility and provide balanced leadership.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Having studied in Antwerp, Belgium, Rutger holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. He joined VRT, the public Flemish broadcast company in 2000 as marketing responsible for their Radio department. In 2002 he took on a new challenge as New Media Advisor for VRT Radio. In this role, he was responsible for strategic planning and setting out a new media policy.As a certified Project Management Professional from the Project Management Institute (pmi.org), he was also a program and project manager for key new media projects and products. He created VRT's well-known and popular internet radio player and set up the first podcasts. In 2007 he became Head of Digital Media, a role in which he was responsible for the digital portfolio and brands, managing large budgets and both project as operational teams. He left VRT in 2008 to become an independent consultant, aiding media companies with incorporating digital media in their business model and scheduling. In this role, he helped clients like SBS Broadcasting and the Pro Sieben SAT1 group identify, evaluate, implement, integrate and measure a combination of alternatives to the traditional television model. In 2011 he was asked to become a partner in Sputnik, an independent TV production company based in Antwerp, Belgium. Over the last few years he has been transforming the company from a traditional production company to an innovative and leading production company with a focus on digital-first content for gen Z and gen Alpha. Recent acknowledgments have been nominations for the Rose d'Or, Prix Europa, and winning the TV-LAB award in Holland and VRT's Diversity Trophy. The title of the successful drama series wtFOCK was the most googled word of 2019 in Belgium, and it was voted the best web series, both in 2020 and 2021.Rutger also coaches young media professionals and teaches Media Entertainment Business at Thomas More.