Dutch trade association reveals director of public affairs Richard Schouten will take over as its new general manager
Dutch trade body GroentenFruit Huis has announced that Janine Luten is to step down after four-and-a-half years as its general director, with current director of pubic affairs Richard Schouten taking on the role.
According to the group, which is also goes by the English name Fresh Produce Centre, Luten has indicated that she is “ready for a new challenge”.
Commenting on her departure, she said she was happy with what she had achieved in her time at the helm.
“I am proud that after these four and a half years there is a great professional team that is ready to help the members prepare for their future: Association 3.0,” she commented.
Luten took over from her esteemed predecessor Gert Mulder in 2020 at a time when the association had emerged from its previous levy-funded model to flourish as a voluntary industry organisation.
She is credited with adopting a clear strategy and helping her colleagues to create a united organisation.
“Whereas, after the mergers, the focus was initially on bringing together the various subgroups – producers and traders – and especially on building a foundation, the focus [since then] has been on further strengthening this foundation, but also on building on it,” she noted.
“To break away from old sentiment and to move from specific to collective advocacy. The result is a proposal for a new association structure and a new contribution system.”
Now that GroentenFruit Huis’ new structure is in place and its dealings with politics and society have been strengthened, Luten’s departure signals the start of a new phase.
“The board of GroentenFruit Huis would like to sincerely thank and compliment Janine for the way in which she has fulfilled her role as general manager,” the group said in a statement. “The board appreciates her unwavering commitment and dedication to the association.”
Luten added: “My thanks go to all the employees of GroentenFruit Huis for the great cooperation. It felt like a close-knit family all those years. I would also like to thank the members and my external network for the good work we did together.
“I look forward to what will come my way, and to whichever organisation I can once again make a positive contribution, together with the employees, with passion and enthusiasm.”
