WCF enhances management team with new partnerships leader
Suzanne Blake joins the WCF as head of partnerships, ahead of its annual partnership meeting. Pic: WCF
On the eve of its latest annual meeting, the World Cocoa Foundation has named Suzanne Blake as Head of Strategic Partnerships and membership for the key sector organisation, writes Neill Barston.
Her appointment comes as the body is set to play a central role in the Amsterdam Cocoa Week, with its industry gathering between 17-18 February and associated events in the Dutch capital set to offer a significant platform for some highly pressing issues.
As Confectionery Production has reported this week, the industry has found itself in fresh crisis this week in Ghana, with reports emerging from the country that cocoa farmers have been left unpaid for months, amid plummeting prices that have more than halved from their $12,000 a tonne peak at the start of 2025, to well under $5,000 per tonne this month.
Confectionery Production will be on hand as a media partner for the event, which runs in the same week as the Chocoa event, which will also place a major spotlight on proceedings within the sector.
Acknowledging the core challenges of the present, the WCF asserted that managing the complexities surrounding a volatile moment in the industry history required its leadership team to be strengthened, as the market grapples with regulatory pressures, climate change, and uncertain conditions in core West African supply chains.
For her part, Suzanne will lead engagement with WCF’s member companies and strategic partners, deepening collaboration across industry, NGOs, investors and landscape initiatives.
As the organisation noted, her remit includes expanding and strengthening WCF’s membership community, aligning partners around shared sustainability priorities and accelerating coordinated action on climate resilience, farmer livelihoods and forest protection.
She will also play a central role in shaping WCF’s external positioning, translating complex sustainability challenges into high-impact partnerships and scalable initiatives that deliver measurable progress across cocoa landscapes.
Suzanne brings more than 20 years of international experience across communications, sustainability strategy and climate finance. She has held senior leadership roles at Macmillan and Phaidon and at global agencies including FutureBrand and SalterBaxter, leading marketing, corporate communications and business development for cross-sector clients.
Most recently, at climate and nature investment and advisory firm Pollination, she led partnerships, marketing and industry engagement, convening coalitions around nature-based and climate solutions at major international forums.
Suzanne also advises the Nature Positive Landscapes Initiative on communications and partnership strategy. She holds an MA in History from the University of Edinburgh and a Certification in Sustainable Finance from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Commenting on her appointment, Suzanne Blake said: “Cocoa sits at the intersection of forest protection, farmer livelihoods and global supply chain resilience. At a time when expectations of the sector are rising, the opportunity is to turn shared ambition into practical, collective action. WCF has a unique convening role, and I look forward to working with members and partners to scale solutions that secure cocoa’s future.”
Dougal Freeman, WCF Vice President of Operations, added: “Suzanne brings a rare blend of strategic corporate affairs expertise, sustainability leadership and coalition-building experience. As the sector faces heightened scrutiny and opportunity, her ability to align diverse stakeholders around shared priorities will strengthen WCF’s capacity to accelerate impact.”
