Special Fruit, a worldwide importer and distributor of special varieties of fruit and vegetables and exotic specialities, has appointed Bert Barmans as its new CEO.
He will be responsible for leading the 30-year-old Belgian company to a successful future.
Over the years, Special Fruit achieved tremendous growth in terms of staff, turnover and profitability.
However, the company went through a rough patch between 2014 and 2016.
In 2017, it opted for co-leadership with Tom van Herwaarden as CCO and Patrick Maes as COO – a move that bore fruit in the subsequent years.
Strong Leadership
The appointment of Barmans is a 'next step' for the company, as it needs strong leadership to translate the shareholders’ vision of the Maes family into concrete strategic plans.
Barmans is a seasoned professional with extensive international experience in the distribution, sales and marketing of fruit.
He held several roles in Zespri for 20 years, including as the head of Zespri Europe for nine years.
The board of directors is confident about the collaboration between Barmans, the Maes shareholders family and the experienced Special Fruit team.
Commenting on his new role, Barmans, said, "Special Fruit harbours great potential. I am looking forward to realising significant growth together with the Maes family, our staff, partners, suppliers and customers.”
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