Mariette Verbruggen appointed as VP corporate affairs for the World Cocoa Foundation
pic: WCF
Former Cargill global communications director, Mariette Verbruggen has been unveiled as the new VP corporate affairs for the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), reports Neill Barston.
She has previously gained significant experience overseeing communications, sustainability and stakeholder engagement within the sector, including overseeing the launch last summer of her former firm’s House of Chocolate innovation centre in Mouscron, Belgium, devising wider strategy for its chocolate business.
Commenting on Mariette Verbruggen’s appointment, Chris Vincent, President of the World Cocoa Foundation, believed that she would make a significant difference to its operations. He said: “We are delighted to welcome Mariette to the World Cocoa Foundation. Her extensive communications experience in the cocoa sector signifies a significant step forward in strengthening WCF’s ability to drive positive sustainability change in the cocoa and chocolate sector. Mariette will also play an important role in strengthening our stakeholder engagement programme” Vincent concluded.
With her latest role, Verbruggen will lead the Corporate Affairs team in advancing the organisation’s mission to create an equitable and thriving cocoa sector. She will be responsible for overseeing WCF’s global communications strategy and stakeholder engagement; articulating a vision for sustainability in the cocoa sector and driving the strategy priorities of the WCF.
Speaking on her appointment, she said: “I am honoured and humbled to be a part of the World Cocoa Foundation. Driving change in a sector as complex as cocoa can only happen through an informed debate about the challenges we face. I hope that WCF continues to be a leading industry voice for cocoa sustainability while contributing to achieving meaningful impact across the cocoa value chain”.
In addition to her corporate accomplishments, Mariette also serves as a Board Member of the Royal Netherlands Tennis Association and is part of the Gender Equality in Tennis committee of Tennis Europe. Her contributions to the sports community underscore her commitment to fostering collaboration and organisational growth on both local and international levels. About the World Cocoa Foundation: The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) is an international membership organisation representing the global cocoa and chocolate sectors. Its members include farmer cooperatives, cocoa processors, chocolate manufacturers, supply chain companies and other companies worldwide