De Haan Appointed as Cargill's Cocoa’s New Marketing and Communications Director

Rens de Haan, who will be based at Cargill’s Wormer offices near Amsterdam, joins Cargill from Netherlands-based healthcare provider H+B.

3/29/2011 --- Rens de Haan has joined Cargill’s cocoa & chocolate business as its new Marketing and Communications Director.

Rens, 47, graduated from Erasmus University, Rotterdam, with a degree in Business Economics, specialising in marketing management, and joined Philips in 1991. Here he focused on innovative consumer marketing and, following a variety of roles, was responsible for the Senseo coffee and PerfectDraft beer dispense businesses.

Rens, who will be based at Cargill’s Wormer offices near Amsterdam, joins Cargill from Netherlands-based healthcare provider H+B and is very much looking forward to his new role.

“My first impression is the breadth and expertise of Cargill’s technological capabilities across such a diverse range of businesses”, said Rens. “At Philips I managed their strategic alliances with Sara Lee and InBev and it was during this time that I came to realise what an interesting ‘opportunity space’ the food industry presented. This isn’t just because of the marketing and technological opportunities, but the importance of food to us all – on a global scale.”

Rens is relishing the challenges that lie ahead. “My main focus is to work with my team to deliver strong marketing and consumer insights to create new and innovative ideas for cocoa and chocolate”, he said.

“I first encountered Cargill 20 years ago. At the time I was impressed by the upbeat, positive and open spirit that it projected as a company – and I am pleased to say that this spirit remains undimmed”, concludes Rens.