FDBusiness.com

Royal Wessanen, the European healthy and sustainable food group, has announced that Piet Hein Merckens (pictured) will not be nominated for a second term as CEO and member of the Executive Board. He will remain acting CEO until a successor has been appointed. The Supervisory Board of Wessanen has commenced its search for a successor.

In light of the pending reappointment in April 2014 of Piet Hein Merckens, the Supervisory Board has concluded that a change in leadership would be appropriate and therefore has decided not to nominate him for a second term.

Frans Koffrie, chairman of the Supervisory Board, comments: “After changing its course in 2009, Wessanen has made progress in various areas, including central sourcing, brand building and activation. Especially the European branded business and IZICO have seen marked improvement. On behalf of all members of the Supervisory Board, I would like to thank Piet Hein Merckens for his valuable contributions during this tenure.”

Piet Hein Merckens, who has been CEO and member of the Executive Board since 1 June 2010, says: “It is with great passion and energy that I have contributed to the transformation of Wessanen. We have realized a positive development within our European core businesses as well as for our IZICO frozen snacks business. The radical but necessary transformational program “Wessanen 2015″ was successfully launched and is already delivering results, which would be unimaginable without the contributions and commitment of over 1,900 dedicated Wessanen employees. Wessanen has a strong fundament for further future growth.”