Joosten to Succeed Cees ’t Hart as CEO of FrieslandCampina

18 Feb 2015 --- The Supervisory Board of Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. intends to appoint Roelof Joosten as Chief Executive Officer of Royal FrieslandCampina with effect from 1 June 2015. Roelof Joosten will succeed Cees ’t Hart, who has accepted a new position as President and CEO of Carlsberg Group in Denmark.

Piet Boer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Royal FrieslandCampina N.V., said: ‘We are immensely indebted to Cees ’t Hart for his dedication and commitment over the past seven years and regret to see him go. In Roelof Joosten, however, we have an excellent and experienced successor ready to take up the reins from within the organisation. With this in mind, the Supervisory Board is confident that the strategy of growth and value creation the company is pursuing can be continued successfully. Roelof Joosten knows FrieslandCampina through and through, having most recently led the expansion of our ingredients activities.’
 
Roelof Joosten (b. 1958) has been a member of the FrieslandCampina Executive Board since 2012; he currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of the FrieslandCampina Ingredients business group. Roelof Joosten joined the company in 2004. Prior to being appointed to the Executive Board, he served as Managing Director of operating company FrieslandCampina Domo, which specialises in the production of infant nutrition and related ingredients. Between 1998 and 2004, he worked for Quest International (ICI), ending his term there as Regional Vice-President Europe. From 1985 to 1998, Roelof Joosten was employed at Uniqema and Crosfield (subsidiaries of Unilever (and subsequently of ICI)) in various executive marketing and sales positions, including in Germany and the UK. Roelof Joosten earned a degree in chemical technology from the University of Groningen, after which he took various post-graduate courses at Harvard University in the United States, among other institutions.
 
Roelof Joosten said: “I was honoured to be invited by the Supervisory Board to accept the position of CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina. The Supervisory Board decided on a successor to Cees ’t Hart soon and found a successor in an internal candidate. This demonstrates their confidence in the current management. The fact that there is chosen for an internal candidate is an encouraging sign for the organisation as a whole. FrieslandCampina has undergone a remarkable development with Cees ’t Hart at the helm. I look forward to continuing to build a strong FrieslandCampina, together with my colleagues.”
 
Cees ’t Hart (b. 1958) has been CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. since 1 January 2009. He was appointed Chairman of the Board of Royal Friesland Foods N.V. on 1 May 2008, and steered the company through a merger with Campina B.V. at the end of December 2008. Cees ’t Hart oversaw the successful integration of the two dairy companies and cooperatives, and more recently devised and managed the roll-out of the group’s route2020 strategy. Under his leadership, revenue has increased from 8.2 to 11.4 billion euros. FrieslandCampina achieved substantial organic growth in Asia, particularly in China and Hong Kong. In the Philippines it acquired Alaska Milk Corporation. In Europe, the company took over a number of cheese companies. Since 2009, FrieslandCampina has invested nearly 1.9 billion euros (of which approximately 70% in the Netherlands) to expand capacity and further improve quality in preparation for the abolition of the EU milk quota for dairy farmers in April 2015. Prior to joining FrieslandCampina, Cees ’t Hart worked for Unilever. He is the Chairman of the Dutch Dairy Association (NZO), a member of the Supervisory Board of KLM Group and a member of the Executive Board of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW). Between 2011 and 2014, Cees ‘t Hart headed the Agri & Food top team in the context of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs’ top sectors policy.
 
Supervisory Board Chairman Piet Boer summarised Cees ‘t Hart’s term in office as follows: ‘Cees ’t Hart led the merger between Friesland Foods and Campina in a most inspiring way, and successfully expanded FrieslandCampina, playing a vital and connecting role in this process. His integrity, deep commitment and fine instinct for organisational developments have moulded FrieslandCampina into a solid company with firm foundations.’
 
Cees ’t Hart himself said of his tenure: “Seven years ago, I began an exceptionally fulfilling period in my working life. I have derived great enjoyment from contributing to the development of FrieslandCampina. It is immensely satisfying for me to see where the company now stands and the excellent growth opportunities that lie before it. I feel very close to all my colleagues throughout the organisation and to our member dairy farmers, and I have no doubt that I will miss the particular dynamism that characterises the dairy industry. FrieslandCampina is a company of which the Netherlands can be proud.”
 
The Central Works Council of FrieslandCampina has been asked to issue a formal opinion on the proposed appointment of Roelof Joosten. Roelof Joosten’s successor as Chief Operating Officer of the FrieslandCampina Ingredients business group will be announced in due course.