Belgian dairy cooperative Milcobel has announced that its CEO Peter Koopmans has left his position ‘by mutual agreement’, as Milcobel claimed the company’s milk price position did not meet expectations.
According to a statement from the cooperative, the position will be filled by an interim CEO until a permanent successor is found. An interim CEO has not yet been appointed, but the company stated that it would announce an interim CEO “as soon as possible”.
Milcobel has made a number of investments in recent years, has expanded its product portfolio and entered new markets. However, the company states that its milk price position “did not deliver what was expected compared to the environment.”
Milcobel produces a wide range of dairy products including butter, cheese and milk drinks, and also supplies raw materials and dairy ingredients to the food industry. The cooperative collected around 1.6 billion litres of milk in 2018, accounting for around 40% of Belgium’s total milk production.
Dirk Ryckaert, president Milcobel said: “With this decision, the board of directors sends a signal that the speed of the ongoing change processes must be increased and that the set objectives must be met quickly and decisively in order to improve the milk price position and profitability in both the short and medium-term, and have a quicker return on investment.
“The board of directors hereby emphasises the role that it wants to play in the success of the dairy cooperative, in order to ensure a stable future for Milcobel. ”
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