Merckens Appointed CEO of Aviko Group

08 May 2014 --- Royal Cosun intends to appoint Piet Hein Merckens (51) as CEO of Aviko and a member of Cosun’s Executive Board with effect from 1 September 2014. Mr Merckens will succeed Martin van de Ven, who has been CEO of Aviko since 2008.

Piet Hein Merckens can draw on a wealth of management experience in the international food industry, having previously worked for Procter & Gamble, Sara Lee/DE and Royal Wessanen. Martin van de Ven has worked for Cosun since 1985, serving as a member of the Executive Board for the past 14 years. He will continue to support his successor for some time after 1 September 2014, in part to ensure the success of the new French fries activities in China. The Works Councils of Aviko and Rixona, a member of the Aviko group, have been asked for their opinion on the appointment.