(Telecompaper) The Belgian government has decided to end the contract of CEO Didier Bellens with immediate effect. The CEO powers were delegated to CFO Ray Stewart and chairman Stefaan De Clerck until a successor is named. Stewart will also chair the management committee. The operator said it will start looking for a new CEO immediately, with the help of an external headhunting agency selected on the basis of tender. A shortlist of candidates will be presented to the government, which, as prescribed by law, will make the final appointment decision. Belgium's Prime Minister Elio di Rupo summoned Bellens on 15 November and dismissed him without any severance payment, Bloomberg reported. Di Rupo told reporters after a cabinet meeting that the federal government's confidence in the now ex-CEO had been "irreversibly damaged" by repeated and accumulated outbursts. Di Rupo also mentioned "certain promotions and departures of senior staff" as a reason for Bellens' dismissal. In addition, the potential sale of a Belgacom building in Brussels to a real estate company where Bellens serves as a director prompted an internal review. An audit later found no wrongdoing. The next CEO's salary will now be limited by a new Belgian law. In September, annual pay for employees at public companies was capped at EUR 290,000, although Belgacom has some flexibility as it is only partly state-owned (53.5%). The company declined to make Bellens available for comment.