VION has named former Rabobank director Sipko Schat as its new chairman.

Schat succeeds Hans Huijbers, who will stay on as the Netherlands-based meat processor’s vice chairman. The company also appointed Cees van Rijn, the former CFO of animal feed group Nutreco , to its board. Van Rijn will have a role “supervising finances”, Vion said.

Michiel Herkemij, Vion’s CEO, said Schat and van Rijn would “fully use their financial expertise for Vion’s benefit”.

He added: “Sipko’s background in banking, with a tremendous experience in the agrarian sector, and Cees’s long years of experience in the food sector, are extremely relevant to Vion.”