Rian Verwoert, former general director of Netherlands-based fresh produce company Fruitmasters, has been named as the new president of Fruitcorso, an annual parade and festival held in the Dutch town of Tiel to celebrate the fruit harvest.
According to Fruitcorso's organisers, Verwoert will take up the new role on 14 November.
The three-day parade, which is said to attract more than 100,000 visitors each year, is regarded as an important social and cultural event particularly in terms of attracting tourists.
Tiel is situated in an area of the Gelderland province called Betuwe, a region known for its fruit production and, in particular, its apples, pears, plums and cherries.
Fruitmasters took the trade by surprise in November 2010 by announcing Verwoert had left the company by mutual consent, with many in the business told that his departure had been inevitable after attempts to integrate Rotterdam-based importer Citronas into the group proved unsuccessful.
Following the interim appointment of Rien van Doorm, Verwoert was eventually succeeded in March 2011 by Kees de Kat, former buying manager at Dutch retail chain Super de Boer.
