Dear Colleagues,

We would like to inform you about several changes within our European organization that will take effect on March 1, 2026.

Business Development: Own Products (OP)

Since the appointment of Sweder van Rijckevorsel as Business Leader Europe, Luc Van Doren has taken full leadership of our Own Products activities over the past months and will now be appointed as Business Development Director OP. Luc and his team will focus on further growth of our own products and on strengthening our market position in high-end markets and circular business activities. Luc will not participate in the BMT.  He will report directly to the VP Business Leader Europe, Sweder van Rijckevorsel, and has an additional reporting line to the VP Sales, Procurement & Logistics, Dan Malone.

To support the continued business growth of OP and strengthen our market position, Bram De Maesschalck will be appointed as Business Development Manager OP. In this role, Bram will report to Luc Van Doren. During the transition from his current responsibilities as technical buyer and support of strategic projects, Bram will continue to provide assistance until these responsibilities have been fully transferred.

We wish Luc and Bram every success in their new roles.

R&D

Pieterjan Valvekens will be appointed as R&D Manager. In this role, Pieterjan will take full leadership of our R&D department, with all R&D employees reporting to him. Pieterjan will participate in the BMT and will report directly to the VP Business Leader Europe, Sweder van Rijckevorsel.

Jack Sinnema will take on the role of Senior R&D Scientist following his official retirement on 1 March 2026. In this new role, he will continue to make his extensive knowledge and expertise of the site and its business available to our organization. Jack will be able to advise Pieterjan in his new role as R&D Manager and will continue to coordinate our TD&S (Technical Development & Strategy) meetings. He will also participate in CDT meetings and certain business development initiatives. Jack will be available three days per week and will report to both Pieterjan Valvekens and the VP Business Leader Europe, Sweder van Rijckevorsel.

We wish Pieterjan great success in his new role and thank Jack for continuing to share his knowledge and expertise with our organization in his new responsibility.