Goodyear® Exec's Mistress Arrested in Wife's Murder

The life of a prominent corporate executive has unraveled in a story that blends betrayal, tragedy, and a crime that has captivated international headlines. Chris Delaney, the former president of the Europe, Middle East and Africa division of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company^®, is no longer with the company after his alleged mistress was arrested for the brutal stabbing death of his wife, Carmel Delaney.

A Corporate Power Couple Torn Apart

Chris and Carmel Delaney were once seen as a globe-trotting power couple. Carmel, originally from Queens, New York, had an impressive marketing career with Procter & Gamble^® and later ran a consultancy for international students. Chris rose through the corporate ranks at Goodyear, eventually becoming a top executive overseeing a vast international territory.

They relocated to Brussels in 2017 - a move that seemed like another exciting chapter. But on March 17, that narrative turned grim.

A Crime Scene in Brussels

Chris returned home from work to find Carmel lying dead in their upscale Brussels apartment. She had been stabbed four times in the chest and torso. At first glance, the crime appeared to be a burglary gone wrong. Surveillance footage showed a masked figure entering the building shortly before Carmel’s arrival. Three luxury watches and valuable jewelry were missing from the apartment, bolstering the burglary theory.

Because Chris does not speak French, he called his executive assistant - 54-year-old Greet Vandeput - to help alert police. But in a twist fit for a true-crime documentary, authorities would later uncover an alleged affair between Chris and Greet. She was more than an assistant - police allege she was romantically involved with her boss.

From Assistant to Suspect

Vandeput, a married Belgian woman, had worked for Goodyear for over a decade and lived just outside Brussels in a modest home with her husband. She shared common interests with Carmel, including a love for horses, and was reportedly recovering from breast cancer surgery when she was arrested in early April.

Her arrest came two days after Carmel’s funeral in New York. According to police, the break in the case came when a friend of Vandeput expressed concerns after a conversation with her. Acting on that tip, investigators searched Vandeput’s home and a nearby stable. Behind a corrugated shed on the property, they found the stolen watches that had been missing from the Delaneys’ apartment.

She was charged with murder and with “port d’arme par destination” - a Belgian legal term for using an object as a weapon. Investigators have not disclosed what weapon was used, only that it was improvised.

Corporate Fallout and Personal Grief

Both Chris Delaney and Vandeput are no longer employed by Goodyear. The company, based in Akron, Ohio, stated that Chris did not receive a severance and that it would cooperate with Belgian authorities if needed.

Although he has not been charged, Chris was questioned by police as a witness. Friends of the Delaneys have come forward to express disbelief and heartbreak. James Lafferty, Chris’s longtime friend and former colleague said, “What I know is that they loved each other dearly and he did not want anything to happen to Carmel,” according to the Toronto Sun.

Photos from Carmel’s online memorial page show a couple who appeared to enjoy life - smiling during train rides, hosting friends, and spending time with grandchildren. In one tribute, a mourner shared an Irish epitaph stating, “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal,” according to the New York Post.

Chris has since returned to the United States. Carmel’s legacy lives on through her four children, her father, and the countless people she mentored through her work.

A Stunning Fall From Grace

At the time of the murder, Chris Delaney was earning nearly $5 million a year - a lucrative role at one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers. The case has stunned not only his industry peers but also the Brussels community where the couple was well known.

Now, a once-celebrated executive finds his name entangled in one of the most sensational corporate-adjacent crimes in recent memory - a brutal reminder that appearances can be deceiving and secrets never stay buried for long.

References: Goodyear executive Chris Delaney’s mistress arrested for allegedly stabbing his wife to death | Goodyear executive fired after alleged mistress accused of murdering wife