Sybren Attema nominated as member of Cooperative Board and intended chairman of Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina U.A.
The Chairmen’s Meeting of Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina U.A. has nominated Sybren Attema as a member of the Cooperative Board. Attema is an experienced board member with a great deal of knowledge of the sector, FrieslandCampina and the cooperative, and he was heavily involved in the complex merger process between Friesland Foods and Campina.
The Members’ Council will vote on the proposed appointment during an additional meeting to be held on 12 November. If Attema is appointed as a member of Cooperative Board, the Cooperative Board intends to appoint him as chairman for a term of four years. Sandra Addink-Berendsen will remain vice chair.
Sandra Addink-Berendsen, vice chair, on the nomination: ‘The Cooperative Board has held many meetings since the departure of Erwin Wunnekink, both internally and with the Members’ Council and Supervisory Board. The Members’ Council has set us a clear task: “Bolster the connection between the members and the cooperative and enhance the supervision of and cooperation with the company. Ensure leadership, introduce calmness and stability into the cooperative without compromising its ability to continue operating at full capacity”. Sybren has a unique profile. He knows the business and the cooperative and is a proper unifier with a proven track record of cooperation geared towards achieving a clear, common dot on the horizon’.
Sybren Attema on his nomination: ‘I was there at FrieslandCampina’s inception eleven years ago. We have since then built the cooperative in a way that serves the interests of our dairy farmers, and I still have a keen sense of involvement. Now that the sector, the cooperative and the business are going through a challenging period, I am once again raring to set to work on building FrieslandCampina’s future in conjunction with our members and the current Cooperative Board. I have full confidence that we can achieve this together and am glad to be able to draw on the Cooperative Board’s knowledge and experience. I look forward to us rising to the challenge together’.
About Sybren Attema
Attema held board positions at FrieslandCampina’s legal predecessors until 2010. As chairman of Friesland Foods, he was closely involved in such projects as the merger of Friesland Foods with Campina and subsequently held the role of vice chairman for two years. Attema stepped down from his board duties in 2010 to join FrieslandCampina as Regional Manager Dairy Development Programme Southeast Asia, a role he fulfilled until 2019.
The articles of association stipulate that active membership is a precondition for chairmanship of the Cooperative Board. Attema is a former member of the cooperative. Hence a change to the articles of association will form part of the appointment procedure. This change will be temporary in nature and will revert at the end of the board term.
The Supervisory Board has indicated that if the Members’ Council agrees to Attema’s appointment, they will have full confidence in appointing him as member and chairman of the Supervisory Board of Koninklijke FrieslandCampina N.V.