A senior director at Wessanen has left the business after the Dutch food group’s largest shareholder did not back his appointment as the company’s new sole chairman in a rejigged executive structure.
Delta Partners, which, according to Wessanen, owns between 25% and 30% of the company, was “unwilling to reconfirm its support” for the appointment of Frans Koffrie as chairman of the Bjorg organic food owner.
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Koffrie had been chairman of Wessanen’s supervisory board. Wessanen had wanted to move from a business with supervisory and management boards to one with a single board.
Delta Partners’ opposition led Koffrie to withdraw his candidacy for the positions of non-executive director and chairman at today’s (24 January) extraordinary shareholders meeting.
The announcement was issued this morning (24 January), just hours before Wessanen’s EGM to vote on the changes to the way the company is run.
A spokesperson for Wessanen said Delta Partners had not disclosed the reasons for its opposition to the move.
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By GlobalDataAsked if Wessanen had felt frustrated at Delta Partners’ decision, the spokesperson said it was “clear” the company had “hoped” to move to one board.
However, he said Wessanen was looking to the future under the stewardship of new CEO Christophe Barnouin, whose appointment was confirmed at the EGM.
