“For almost 37 years I have been working with great pleasure for Enza Zaden.” These are the words of Vincent van Bentum, Managing Director Seed Operations at Enza Zaden. Vincent will retire as of 1 January 2019. His successor, Allison Thomas, already joined Enza Zaden to make the transition as smooth as possible. “What I immediately noticed in the short time that I have worked here at Enza Zaden, is the feeling of pride and teamwork across the company.”
Vincent joined Enza Zaden in June 1982. Since 2000 he was a member of the Board of Directors as Managing Director Seed Operations. Vincent van Bentum: “The vegetable breeding business is a very interesting and green one: innovative, dynamic, international and, last but not least, a business that ensures healthy food worldwide.”
He continues: “In addition, I have been part of the enormous growth of our company. In my early days Enza Zaden had 40 employees and was mainly focused on the Netherlands. Now we have grown into an international company of around 2,000 employees! And still, Enza Zaden is an independent family business, with a long-term vision in which people are key.”
Allison Thomas, Chief Operations Officer (COO), started working at Enza Zaden in August 2018. She has an engineering background, with a degree in Mining and Minerals Processing from Queen's University, Canada. She also has carried out additional research in the field of recycling in Delft. Allison has extensive international experience, including almost 20 years at PepsiCo, last in the position of Supply Chain Director, Customer Service & Logistics Transformation Europe. “Within Enza Zaden everybody is very motivated and driven. Care for developing the best varieties and delivering the best seeds to our customers is visible every day.”
Jaap Mazereeuw, CEO of Enza Zaden, wishes Vincent van Bentum on behalf of the entire Board of Directors all the luck with his activities in the coming years. "We are very grateful for Vincent’s enormous dedication and commitment to our company, and will certainly miss him. At the same time, we are very pleased with the arrival of Allison Thomas. We warmly welcome her."