Barry Callebaut Chief Innovation Officer Hans Vriens Resigns

Dirk Poelman, currently Chief Operations Officer (COO), will assume the role of Chief Innovation Officer ad interim in addition to his current function. He also reports in this function to CEO, Juergen Steinemann. The succession process for the Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) role has been initiated.

15 Jun 2012 --- After seven years with Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products, Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) and member of the Executive Committee (ExCo) Hans P. Vriens has requested to resign from the company for personal reasons with immediate effect. The company has accepted the resignation.

Dirk Poelman, currently Chief Operations Officer (COO), will assume the role of Chief Innovation Officer ad interim in addition to his current function. He also reports in this function to CEO, Juergen Steinemann. The succession process for the Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) role has been initiated.

The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of Barry Callebaut express their thanks to Hans Vriens for his valuable contribution in supporting the company to become a leader in chocolate innovation.

Dirk Poelman (1961) joined Barry Callebaut in 1984. He was appointed Vice President Operations and Research&Development in 2004. Dirk Poelman became Chief Operations Officer (COO) in September 2006 and a member of Barry Callebaut’s Executive Committee in November 2009.