ForFarmers nominates Chris Deen as CEO
The feed manufacturer’s current CEO, Yoram Knoop, is stepping down after the company’s AGM today.
The appointment of Deen requires approval by an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, likely to take place in June. If appointed, he will take on the CEO role on July 1, 2022.
He is currently CEO of Aviko, a subsidiary of Dutch group Royal Cosun, and one of the four largest potato processors in the world, having started in the role at the beginning of 2020. Deen managed to continue Aviko’s successful growth strategy, despite the disruptions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, noted ForFarmers.
Deen has a degree in business economics and information management from Amsterdam University. He also attained a postgraduate degree in chartered accountancy. He started his career in 1991 as accountant at EY. He moved to Sara Lee/Douwe Egberts in 1996, where he held various positions until 2010. These included CFO of Douwe Egberts Coffee Systems in the Netherlands and general manager of Sara Lee International Foodservice Iberia (Barcelona, Spain). Subsequently, Deen joined Bakkersland, at the time the largest bakery producer in the Netherlands, where he was CFO and CEO between 2012 and 2016. Prior to joining Aviko, he was COO and integration director at herb and spice business, Euroma.
Jan van Nieuwenhuizen, chairman of the supervisory board of ForFarmers, said Deen, with this background, has the skills and experience to positively influence the development of ForFarmers.
The company outlined how Roeland Tjebbes will temporarily take on the CEO role next to his CFO responsibilities until July 1.
ForFarmers said it will disclose its strategy review shortly after the new CEO has joined.
