Welcome to the Latest News:
- Barry Callebaut has appointed Natasha Chen as the new president of its North American operations, effective September 16th. She takes over from Ben De Schryver, who has moved on to explore other opportunities. Read the full statement here.
- Reporting directly to CEO Peter Feld, Chen will also join the company’s leadership team.
- Recent reports from Barry Callebaut indicated a 1.4% decline in sales volume in North America for the nine months ending May 31st. This decrease was attributed to lower demand from large food manufacturers, with North America accounting for a significant portion of the company’s sales volume.
Insightful Analysis:
Chen steps into her new role at a time when Barry Callebaut has been investing heavily in cocoa research, flavor profiling, and product innovation. The company has undergone significant executive changes while navigating challenges in the cocoa and chocolate industry.
Although Chen’s background may not be primarily in food, her experience in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) sector is noteworthy. Prior to joining Barry Callebaut, she led the global healthcare division at Ecolab and held various leadership positions at Colgate-Palmolive for over two decades. Her international perspective is expected to help Barry Callebaut expand its presence in the U.S. market amidst fluctuating cocoa prices.
In a statement, CEO Peter Feld praised Chen’s leadership skills, market understanding, and commitment to digitalization and sustainability. Her track record of enhancing customer engagement and driving business transformations aligns well with Barry Callebaut’s strategic goals.