European Cocoa Association names Chris Beetage as new president
Chris Beetage is the new ECA president. Pic: ECA
The European Cocoa Association has moved to appoint Chris Beetage, regional head of cocoa operations at ofi, as the organisation’s president for a two-year term, writes Neill Barston.
He has now taken up the role last week, with Guus de Gruiter, Co-CEO of ECOM Cocoa, being appointed as the ECA Vice-President, and Olivier Werbrouck as the ECA Treasurer.
The restructured senior management of the ECA comes at a significantly challenging period for the wider cocoa and chocolate sector, with major supply chain challenges ongoing, with pricing volatility, and climate change challenges, as well as crop diseases being an increasing factor facing the industry on an international level.
Notably, the trio will form the new ECA Executive Committee. As part of his first reaction in his new role, Mr. Beetge thanked Christian Vollers, former
ECA Chairman, for his great achievements and leading role during his chairmanship, notably on the successful European Cocoa Forum 2025 and his positive impact on the Association during his long presence on the ECA Board.
Commenting on his new role, Chris Beetge said: “The cocoa industry is living through a period of profound change. In times like these, unity is not optional; it is essential. The European Cocoa Association must be a stronger, more cohesive voice than ever before, and my ambition is to deepen the ties that bind our membership together.
“We have the people, the platform, and now the strategy – the only thing left is to deliver.”
The ECA Board of Directors also decided to approve the appointment of two new Directors. Albert Rius, CEO of Nessentis in the Processors category and Alec Gunn, CEO of Commodity Centre in the Logistics category. The Board of Directors now consists of 11 members.
