Christophe Vermeulen new CEO of Belgapom starting January 2021

December 07, 2020

Next to CEO of the Belgian potato trade and processing industry association, Vermeulen will also act as the director of FVPhouse, the umbrella organization of the federations in the Belgian potato, fruit and vegetable wholesale trade and processing industry.

Sturdy foundation

Belgapom President Marc van Herreweghe stated to be particularly happy with the choice of Christophe Vermeulen: ‘Both his education and experience at national and international level form a sturdy foundation for assisting and representing the sector’s companies.’ Current CEO Romain Cools will remain active as an advisor for his successor until mid-2021. ‘I have come to know Christophe Vermeulen through his activities within the European Parliament and I am impressed by his knowledge of issues and above all his enormous enthusiasm’, Cools welcomed Vermeulen. Potato professionals will still have a chance to run into Cools during the Interpom international trade fair in Kortrijk from 28 to 30 November 2021, as he will keep providing aid and assistance to Belgapom and FVPhouse where necessary until the end of 2021. Cools also stated he will remain the CEO of the Canadian NGO World Potato Congress inc. until after the World Potato Congress in Dublin in June 2022.

Work cut out for us

Vermeulen announced to be very grateful for the confidence the Board of Directors has shown in him. ‘I am extremely proud that I may represent the interests of our potato sector, the jewel in the crown of our agri-food industry. And we have our work cut out for us: amongst other things the corona crisis, Brexit, anti-dumping, the Green deal, the many challenges of sustainability and health … I am pleased that Romain has offered to closely accompany the transition and I am really looking forward to jumping in with the entire team.’

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