Joosten new CEO as t’Hart leaves FrieslandCampina

Dutch dairy giant Royal FrieslandCampina has lost its chief executive office, Cees t’Hart, to Danish brewer Carlsberg Group. The 56-year-old joins the brewery from the co-operative, where he has been CEO since its merger in 2009. The supervisory board of Royal FrieslandCampina is appointing Roelof Joosten as CEO with effect from 1 June 2015.
Piet Boer, chairman of the aupervisory board of Royal FrieslandCampina says: “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 board is confident that the strategy of growth and value creation the company is pursuing can be continued successfully. Joosten knows FrieslandCampina through and through, having most recently led the expansion of our ingredients activities.“

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 increased from €8.2 to €11.4 billion.

Joosten has been a member of the FrieslandCampina executive board since 2012; he currently serves as COO of the FrieslandCampina Ingredients business group. He joined the company in 2004. Prior to being appointed to the board, he served as MD 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.

Joosten says, “I was honoured to be invited by the supervisory board to accept the position of CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina. The 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.”