Appointments
Netherlands-based vegetable seed company Rijk Zwaan has announced that assistant director Marco van Leeuwen has officially joined the its board of directors, succeeding Anton van Doornmalen as of July. Together with Ben Tax – who has taken over the chairmanship of the group from Mr van Doornmalen – and Kees Reinink, Mr van Leeuwen forms a three-pronged management group responsible for the entire enterprise. In his new role, he will concentrate in particular on production, logistics and commercial affairs.
Following a shareholding reorganisation in January, Capespan chairman Paul Clüver has been re-elected to the role for a further term. Meanwhile, the South Africa-based group has also appointed two new board members, Crispin Sonn and Antonie Jacobs.
Ireland-based Keelings has announced the departure of its UK managing director Terry Watts. Mr Watts will continue to work with the company in an advisory capacity until the end of the year, in particular with Steven Fagg, who has been appointed as business unit director at the UK subsidiary.
Total Produce has announced a number of appointments that took effect at the start of the month. Finance director Frank Gernon has become director of financial strategy and development, while Frank Davis, currently group chief financial officer and company secretary, succeeds Mr Gernon. Marie Reid, assistant company secretary, takes over as company secretary.
Jean-Marc Piloquet has joined French group Fruidor as assistant MD responsible for banana ripening and other fruits. Mr Piloquet was formerly in charge of strategic thinking at UGPBAN, the union of Martinique and Guadeloupe banana producer groups, having left Compagnie Fruitière at the start of 2008.
Andrew Fenton and Brian Gargiulo have both been re-elected to Horticulture New Zealand’s board of directors following a vote by individual grower members.
Deaths
Hamburg-based fresh produce group Port International has announced that chairman Hajo Port died on 18 June after a short illness. Mr Port, 82, joined the family firm in 1945, transforming the Hamburg-based company into one of Germany’s leading fresh fruit and vegetable importers and distributors. He focused his efforts in particular on the banana business and, among many ventures in the banana sector, was instrumental in launching the Dole brand in Germany (in conjunction with Standard Fruit) as well as the first shipments of bananas in cartons.
