Biography

He is considered one of the figures of the Golden Generation of Ghent liberals who made a splash from the late 1980s onwards.

He also served as a Member of Parliament between 1994 and 2010, where he focused primarily on Foreign Relations. He combined this with numerous board positions, including those at Electrabel, Eandis, Publigas, Elia, and Fluxys. During this extensive political career, he was frequently the subject of controversy. These numerous positions, among other things, caused a stir, particularly in the aftermath of the scandal surrounding Ghent-based Publipart NV. The directors there were paid excessively high wages for the limited work they were required to do.

He graduated in law from Ghent University in 1980 and was a lawyer at the Ghent Bar from 1980 to 2000.

Versnick, who began his career as a lawyer, was an influential figure in Ghent and East Flanders politics for a long time. He served as an alderman in Ghent, a member of the federal parliament, and a deputy for the province of East Flanders.

Versnick was diagnosed with cancer in September 2025. Although the therapy initially seemed to be working, Versnick died after a short battle with the disease.