Frederic HARDES
Brussels
Summary
Highly experienced and passionate Chief Enterprise Architect with over 20 years of expertise in Digital Technology Strategy, Cloud, Data, and AI, including significant experience within the Financial Services and Payments sector. Proven leader in designing and implementing robust, scalable, and secure architectures that support strategic objectives in rapidly evolving landscapes. Adept at leveraging modern architectural styles, agile methodologies, and fostering a culture of innovation across multidisciplinary teams in complex, regulated environments. A strong connector-communicator with a demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and evangelize best practices. Fluent in English, French, and Dutch.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
BlueBright SAS
03.2025 - Current
- Responsible for defining and executing overall technology strategy and vision, with a strong focus on AI solutions. Oversees technological innovation and product development for clients in various sectors.
Chief Enterprise Architect
Belfius
08.2024 - 02.2025
- Shaped the future of Technology by modernizing existing systems and integrating innovative solutions such as Generative AI, Cloud, and Data, enhancing resilience and security across Banking and Insurance.
- Co-created and championed the organization's AI strategy, guiding the vision and direction for Generative AI, RAG-based AI, and Agentic AI capabilities.
- Evaluated diverse target architectures for crypto assets, assessing regulatory, compliance, and security implications to formulate decision-ready recommendations for CIOs.
Chief Enterprise Architect
SMALS (Government Client)
12.2022 - 08.2024
- Established and drove the technological strategy and its methodological follow-up for government clients (KSZ, RIZIV), providing clear direction and guidelines for IT architecture implementation across infrastructure and application development.
- Led a team of 10 architects to define and implement the enterprise architecture vision, optimizing IT solutions across performance, cost, security, and user experience for KSZ-BCSS.
- Established and evangelized best practices and standards for API development (REST API framework, guidelines) to accelerate time-to-market and reduce risk.
Consulting Director, Architecture, Digital & Innovation Practice
RedBright SPRL / BlueBright SAS-Financial Services
01.2016 - 01.2024
- KBC/Discai (Chief Data & AI architect a.i., 2022-2022) : Spearheaded the Enterprise Architecture strategy for an AI platform to support Anti-Money Laundering and Fraud Detection in payment and banking area.
Results : AI product made operational and 3 clients bought and run the solution. Delivered prospective PSD2 study - Generali (Project Director & Chief Architect a.i. - Digital Transformation and Divestiture portfolio, 2018-2019) : Defined the target operating model for AI and Enterprise Architecture for Open Insurance (Cloud and API management).
Results : Roadmap, Target Operating model, Enterprise Architecture. - Société Générale Security Services (SGSS) (Business Strategist - Digital Innovation, 2017-2017) : Defined target operating model and digital strategy design (API, AI, Cloud driven), including assessment of regulatory and tax affairs.
Results : Regulatory Solution Roadmap, Target Operating model (including MiFID2 and Target2). - Banque Publique d'Investissement (BPI) (Enterprise Architect - Digital Transformation, 2017-2017) : Helped BPI navigate in an uncertain environment and define strategies and priorities for a new banking era.
Results : Solution roadmap, Target Operating Model, Empathy Maps.
Senior Manager, Technology Strategy & Architecture
Deloitte LU / BE
02.2013 - 12.2016
- Unicredit (Project Manager, 2015-2015) : In charge of the feasibility study and implementation of new operating model for the cybersecurity Department, delivering the first cloud architecture building block.
Results : Restored a healthy relationship between 2 business units while preparing the roadmap for key solution building blocks. Delivered the first cloud architecture building block. - Banque De Groof (Senior Project Manager M&A, 2015-2015) : In charge of leading all the streams for a target architecture for IT integration. Also Solution architect for overall application integrations consequent to the merger.
Results : Successfully anticipated several key risks and completed vendor selections for key solutions building blocks before the merger.
Senior Management Consultant / Transformation Manager - Enterprise Architect
Freelance Consultant / Orange
01.2004 - 01.2013
- Orange (Transformation Manager - Enterprise Architect, Jan 2006 - Jan 2009): Drove e-Business API Strategy and successfully implemented a group API for Self-service/Digital Channels, leading to €200M of OPEX savings.
- BNP Paribas Fortis (Chief Enterprise Architect - M&A Post Merger Integration, 2011-2012) :
- Lead Architect for the feasibility studies post-merger: MIFID1,
- Chaired the EA governance committees
Results : Successful implementation of MiFID for Retail, IS and CIB; Overall 500M € of cost synergies generated by the IT Platform.
Education
Master of IT/IP Law - Banking And Finance
University of Strasbourg
France01.2012
MSc - IT Engineering
ESIGELEC
France01.2003
Skills
- Enterprise Architecture: Enterprise Information Architecture, Solution Architecture, Domain Architecture, IT Governance, Strategic Roadmapping, Target Operating Models, Business Capability Modeling
- Payments & Financial Services Domain: Acquiring, Issuing, Payments domain knowledge, Anti-Money Laundering, Fraud Detection, Open Insurance, MiFID
- Cloud Platforms & Practices: Microsoft Azure, Cloud-Native Architectures, Hybrid Cloud, Well-Architected Frameworks (security, scalability, resilience)
- API Architecture & Management: API Management & Governance, Microservices, Event-Driven Architecture, REST API framework, API for Self-service/Digital Channels
- Data & Analytics: Data Architecture, Big Data Architectures, Data Warehousing, Data Governance, Master Data Management, Data Quality, Business Intelligence (Power BI, QlikView, Tableau)
- Emerging Technologies: Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI, RAG-based AI, Agentic AI), Machine Learning, Blockchain
- Methodologies & Practices: Agile (Scrum, SAFe/SCALE), Design Thinking, DevOps Principles, Cybersecurity, GDPR Compliance
Languages
English: Fluent
French: Native
Spanish: Bilingual
Dutch: Advanced
Timeline
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
BlueBright SAS
03.2025 - Current
Chief Enterprise Architect
Belfius
08.2024 - 02.2025
Chief Enterprise Architect
SMALS (Government Client)
12.2022 - 08.2024
Consulting Director, Architecture, Digital & Innovation Practice
RedBright SPRL / BlueBright SAS-Financial Services
01.2016 - 01.2024
Senior Manager, Technology Strategy & Architecture
Deloitte LU / BE
02.2013 - 12.2016
Senior Management Consultant / Transformation Manager - Enterprise Architect
Freelance Consultant / Orange
01.2004 - 01.2013
Master of IT/IP Law - Banking And Finance
University of Strasbourg
MSc - IT Engineering
ESIGELEC
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