CEO Albert Markusse leaves Cosun

Albert Markusse will step down as CEO of food group Cosun on 1 June 2021. He then spent more than 4 years as CEO of the cooperative group, which includes Aviko and Cosun Beet Company. Markusse wants to spend more time on his private life.

Cosun reports this on its website. Markusse has been working at Cosun since 2007. Before that, he was director at CSM Suiker. After the takeover of CSM Suiker by Cosun, he became CEO of the then Suiker Unie (now Cosun Beet Company). He has been promoted to CEO since 2017, with Markusse taking over from Robert Smith.

The CEO announces his departure in a turbulent period for the food group, now that French fries company Aviko has to pull out all the stops. As a result of the corona crisis, Aviko has to deal with a major drop in demand from the catering industry, which has a significant impact on financial performance. 

Reorganize
Markusse has not turned his back on reorganizing in recent years. Under his leadership, CSM Suiker has been integrated into Suiker Unie and he has discharged the sugar company through the abolition of the European sugar market organisation. Factories have been closed in the Netherlands, but considerable investments have also been made in the current factories in Dinteloord, Vierverlaten and Anklam in Germany.

In the past year, Markusse helped prepare Cosun's new strategy. He also initiated Cosun's investments at Aviko (Poperinge, China and Rixona) and at Duynie Group (pet food factory in Cuijk). The opening of the Cosun innovation center has laid the foundation for future growth through innovation, the company said in a statement.

It indicates that Markusse strives for a better work-life balance in order to be able to devote more attention to other activities, including his family and social goals. The search for a successor has started, Cosun reports.

In 2018 spoke Boerenbusinesseditor Niels van der Boom with Markusse in an interview in our own studio. You can rewatch that interview here.

Eric the Thrush

Eric is a member of the editorial staff of Boerenbusiness. As a descendant of an arable family, farmer's blood flows through Eric's veins. He considers himself a generalist, but with a preference for economics, trends, markets and marketing.

e.delijster@boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.