Background milk
FrieslandCampina likes to fish in the LTO pond
For the second time in more than six months, FrieslandCampina has fished a cooperative director out of the pond of LTO Nederland. In December Herman Bakhuis, this week Trienke Elshof. A cooperative director also sometimes transfers to LTO.
Read this article?
Become a subscriber and get instant access
Choose the subscription that suits you
Does this say something about a special bond between FrieslandCampina and LTO? The largest dairy cooperative in the country has more former LTO directors, such as Nils den Besten. Financial people are also doing well. At other dairy cooperatives the number of senior former LTO directors is much lower. These cooperatives are also smaller and pay less well. An average RFC commissioner easily receives €55.000, the chairman more than €220.000.
But FrieslandCampina is also selective. There are no former NMV members on the cooperative board there and certainly no even less polished farmers. Certainly not in recent years.
Former foreman of first the NMV and then of LTO Melkveehouderij Jan Cees Vogelaar has been the most colorful director to date. FrieslandCampina is gradually electing more and more women to the board, but otherwise a cautious policy is being pursued. No very striking farmers at the helm.
The appointment of Brabander Frans van den Hurk about two years ago was a directorial error. He didn't last long himself.
In the meantime, LTO also sometimes takes over a candidate from FrieslandCampina, such as Herman Bakhuis and last year Erwin Wunnekink. This way you get directors with some experience on both sides, but there is also the danger of a small 'old boys (& girls) network.'