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Barentz, a global provider of specialty ingredient solutions, has announced the appointment of Christian Barker as chief commercial officer and global head of human nutrition.
This operational shift comes as the company seeks to enhance its leadership capabilities following the departure of Gökhan Oran, who stepped down for personal reasons.Barker brings over two decades of experience in industrial biotechnology, consumer health, speciality ingredients and agriculture.
His most recent role was as executive vice president of health and nutrition at a leading global biosolutions firm, where he successfully scaled the business fivefold through innovation, acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Prior to this, he served as corporate vice president of strategic development, playing a key role in the company’s transformation into a leader in the biosciences sector.
In addition to his corporate experience, Barker spent 15 years at a top management consultancy, including eight years as a partner in New York. His consultancy work involved advising senior management and boards across various sectors, including consumer goods, food, life sciences and private equity.
Barker also holds a Master’s degree in economics and business administration from Copenhagen Business School in Denmark
Derk Jan Terhorst, CEO of Barentz, expressed confidence in Barker's ability to drive growth within the Human Nutrition division. "His strategic expertise and deep industry knowledge make him an excellent addition to our leadership team," he stated. "Christian's proven track record in driving sustainable growth and innovation will be instrumental in advancing our Human Nutrition division and reinforcing our market position."
The transition follows a successful five-year tenure by Gökhan Oran, during which he expanded the Human Nutrition division and laid a robust foundation for future growth.
Terhorst acknowledged Oran's contributions, noting that his leadership helped secure investments that repositioned Barentz in the market.