Vion searches for new CEO following Kint departure announcement
Kint will leave Vion on 1 June to become CEO of a Belgian listed company, with his successor set to be announced in due course.
He joined Vion as CEO in 2015 and, along with the other members of the executive committee, he led the transformation of the company through a modernisation plan, which included a €260 million investment programme. This resulted in improvements to the bottom line for three years in a row.
Vion currently holds production locations in the Netherlands and Germany and sales support offices in 13 countries worldwide. In 2016, it had a turnover of €4.7 billion, with 11,500 employees.
Kint said: “I am proud to have led Vion for three years. We have strengthened the organisation, significantly upgraded our production footprint and made valuable commercial inroads. We also engaged in a societal dialogue on the meat industry and took leadership on certain themes such as the needed transparency.
“The company is now in good shape and the three divisions are led by a team of very experienced managers. I have been offered the opportunity to lead a listed company in my home country and have decided to take up this challenge.”
Sipko Schat, chairman of the supervisory board, praised Kint’s work in the role: “Francis was instrumental in transforming Vion over the last three years, with a clear focus not only on further optimising our footprint but also with selective acquisitions and greenfield operations.
“He also drove our sustainability agenda, with a strong emphasis on transparency. While we regret Francis’ departure and will certainly miss him, we respect his decision and wish him well for the future.”
