The European Cocoa Association (ECA) has appointed Steven Retzlaff, president Global Cocoa at Barry Callebaut, as its new chairman with immediate effect.
Retzlaff replaces Matthias D’hondt, CEO of Molenbergnatie, for a two-year term and as the ECA chairman, Retzlaff has also been appointed the new chairman of the Primary Food Processors Platform.
“It is a pleasure, an honor, but also a great responsibility to chair the European Cocoa Association for the next two years. After 18 years of existence, the key role played by ECA is now well recognized by all the cocoa-chain stakeholders,” Retzlaff said.
“My ambition is to pursue the strategy agreed by the Board, which requires us to remain vigilant in our monitoring of regulatory developments on trade, food safety and sustainability which would impact our business operations. At the same time, I will try to continue to strengthen the collaboration on relevant food safety topics both with ECA members as well as with EU/international authorities.
“As an industry, we need to remain attentive to tomorrow’s opportunities and threats and anticipate changes in the cocoa supply chain“.
Retzlaff joined Barry Callebaut in 1996 and was appointed president Global Cocoa and member of Barry Callebaut’s executive committee in 2008.
The ECA is a trade association that groups the major companies involved in the cocoa bean trade and processing, in warehousing and related logistical activities in Europe.
Other appointments to ECA’s executive committee include Wim Groen, CEO of Theobroma, as vice-chair and Henk-Jan Weekhout, director at C. Steinweg - Handelsveem BV, as ECA treasurer.