Welcome, Jonny Van De Casteele

As of July 15, Jonny Van De Casteele has joined the Orea Capital team as  Partner / Head Social Profit. With several decades of experience in wealth management, he brings rich expertise for both institutional and private clients. We sat down to discuss the importance of human relationships as a factor for long-term success, the opportunities offered by AI, and the pleasure of calm and silence during a horseback ride.

You’ve been active in the financial sector for over thirty years. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?

One lesson stands out for me: trust is the true capital. It's not the markets or the products, but the relationships you build, with discretion, integrity, and sincere attention that form the core of lasting success.
A good private banker is a trusted advisor during key moments in life, ensuring the client’s interests always come first. And that trust must be earned, day after day.
 

What achievements are you most proud of in your career?

After 35 years in the financial world, full of numbers, risks, and returns it’s above all the people I’ve met that bring me the most satisfaction. Clients who have grown and evolved. Colleagues who have become friends. And crises that, however tough, taught me to stay calm and move forward.
There were certainly tough times: financial crises, regulatory changes, the rise of digitalization… Each one was a lesson in adaptability and integrity.
What remains is the pride of being someone people trust, someone who listens, advises, and sometimes simply offers reassurance. Satisfaction comes not just from results, but from the impact I’ve had on people’s lives, on companies, on associations, and in mentoring the next generation.

Belgium is a competitive market for wealth management. How does Orea Capital stand out?

For me, wealth management relies on four key qualities: efficiency, transparency, trust, and independence.
• Efficiency: Our small, agile teams quickly turn ideas into actions, without the bureaucratic burden of larger organizations.
• Transparency: Fewer layers of hierarchy, a lean infrastructure, and thus a clear and low cost structure. We communicate transparently on every investment decision.
• Trust: We aim for long-term relationships. Orea Capital is built on experienced, motivated professionals, which inspires trust, an invaluable asset in our profession.
• Independence: Orea Capital is fully independent. There are no conflicts of interest from activities like investment banking, brokerage, or selling in-house funds. This independence allows us to act solely in the client’s best interest.
 

How do you manage differing expectations or visions within institutional teams, such as between CFOs, board members, or external consultants?

Diverse viewpoints within a team are common in institutional management. With active stakeholder mapping, this is manageable. It’s based on four key elements:

1. Identifying all involved parties—knowing who decides, who influences, and who executes.
2. Tailoring communication—each stakeholder has different needs: board members want strategic views, consultants need data and benchmarks.
3. Clear, targeted reporting—a specific report for each audience, such as one for the board, another for consultants.
4. Regular updates—through calls or in-person meetings, with a clear agenda and opportunity for feedback.
   Institutional clients are both loyal and demanding. Today, Orea Capital manages portfolios for several institutional accounts, including non-profits (ASBLs), foundations, and pension funds (OFPs) in Belgium and Luxembourg.

In your view, what are the key factors for building long-term trust?

• Consistent performance is crucial. Clients don’t expect spectacular results but value stability and reliability aligned with their risk profile and goals.
• Transparency about strategy, risks, and fees, to avoid surprises.
• Integrity: Clients must be confident that every decision is made in their interest. As an independent firm, we can fully reassure them on that point.
• Long-term service orientation: Year after year, we build a relationship. It starts with easy access to a dedicated contact. That’s how real partnerships grow, through proactive thinking about investment decisions.
 

What role do you see for artificial intelligence in institutional asset management over the next 3 to 5 years?

I believe we must embrace AI, it elevates portfolio management to a whole new level.
• It allows the analysis of massive amounts of data: quickly analyzing market or company data to spot opportunities or risks, forecast market movements, or identify correlations between assets. This real-time analysis lets us adjust portfolios immediately, without emotional interference.
• It enhances risk management: sophisticated models can precisely assess volatility or Value at Risk, optimize allocations based on risk profiles, and run detailed scenario analyses and stress tests.
• It boosts efficiency: repetitive tasks disappear, analysts can focus on qualitative analysis, and the portfolio is monitored 24/7 without human intervention. The result? More time for strategic choices and a faster, more robust management process.

How do you unwind after a busy week?

Horseback riding in nature gives me a unique mix of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. I find peace and quiet, far from the daily hustle, while enjoying the landscape and the changing seasons. It gives me a sense of freedom and adventure.
The bond between rider and horse is something special—a silent, mutual understanding that develops over time, with trust and respect. And on top of that, I get a healthy dose of vitamin D and fresh air—free of charge!