Fulco van Lede has been confirmed as Nutreco’s new CEO following the retirement of Rob Koremans on 15 August.
Van Lede, a Dutch national born in the U.S. state of California and educated as a lawyer, has spent almost two decades in leadership positions at Nutreco’s parent company, SHV Holdings N.V., serving on its executive board of directors since 2018. He also takes up the role of chairman of the Nutreco executive leadership team.
“Nutreco is in a strong position and has fared well through the challenges posed by the pandemic. Looking forward, we must build on the successes of Nutreco and, together, make an even stronger and fitter company to secure our long-term, sustainable future,” van Lede said.
In one of his earlier roles as CEO of off-grid energy company SHV Energy, van Lede led the company to a number of sustainability and innovation achievements. These included partnering on the first large-scale distribution of BioLPG, which enabled customers to improve their carbon footprints. Also under his leadership, SHV Energy established a global sustainability community, switched many new customers from polluting fuels to cleaner products, and began calculating its carbon footprint. Van Lede has also worked in the SHV companies Makro Cash and Carry and Primagas.
In addition to his responsibilities at Nutreco, van Lede serves as treasurer for Dutch charitable foundation Stichting Fonds DBL, which assists people and families in need.
Nutreco said Koremans’ retirement was a personal decision. He will continue at Nutreco as an advisor to the company’s leadership team through the remainder of 2021 “to ensure a smooth transition and to facilitate the startup of a new fundamental research unit that will develop and introduce unique proprietary products, such as feed additives and specialty ingredients,” the company said in its press release.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of Nutreco and supporting the company in living its purpose of ‘feeding the future,’” Koremans, who took over as CEO from his predecessor Knut Nesse in 2018, said. “It’s been a privilege to work with so many passionate and motivated people, both within the company and in the industry.”
Nutreco comprises two company divisions, with Skretting manufacturing and supplying feeds to the aquaculture industry and Trouw Nutrition delivering specialities, premixes, and nutritional services for the animal nutrition industry.
Earlier this month, Nutreco announced an investment in Proteon Pharmaceuticals to reduce its reliance on antibiotics within aquaculture and livestock farming. Joining Nutreco in the financing round that raised EUR 21 million (USD 24.7 million) were Aqua-Spark, PFR Life Science, Montis Capital, Seventure Partners, as well as a group of angel investors.
“We want to thank Rob for leading Nutreco for the last three years and we wish him all the best in the future,” SHV CEO Jeroen Drost said. “In Fulco, we have a worthy successor to lead the company in its next phase of growth.”
Photo courtesy of Nutreco
