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PRESS RELEASE
Ter Beke takes a new step in Governance process
Marc Hofman and Dirk Van de Walle appointed as managing directors of Ter Beke.
Waarschoot, 23 May 2006. The Board of
Directors of the fresh food group Ter Beke has appointed Marc Hofman and Dirk
Van de Walle as managing directors of the Ter Beke Group and as CEOs of the
Processed Meats Division and the Ready Meals Division, respectively. Luc De
Bruyckere will continue to chair the Group Executive Committee and the Board of
Directors.
These appointments fit within a process of corporate governance that Ter Beke
initiated already in the seventies. First with the appointment of a professional
management in an early phase of the family business, afterwards the operational
management was delegated by the family shareholders and in 1980 independent
outside directors were appointed. In 1986 came the stock market introduction,
coupled with a renewal of the Board of Directors which in the following years
was regularly adapted to the needs of the company.
In 2000 Mr Daniël Coopman retired as chairman of the Board of Directors. From
that time on Luc De Bruyckere was chairman of the Board of Directors and
managing director. In 2002 Marc Hofman, Dirk Van de Walle and Wim De Cock (Group
Manager of Operations) were appointed as executive members of the Board of
Directors, according to the English model, with a view to a better interaction
between executive and non-executive directors.
Parallel to this governance process, the two core businesses of the Ter Beke
Group (Processed Meats and Fresh Ready Meals) developed their own dynamic in the
areas of HR, organisation and systems. After the acquisitions of Di Pasto (pasta
meals) in France and of Langeveld-Sleegers (pre-packaged processed meats) in the
Netherlands, the recent merger with Pluma from Wommelgem represents a very
important strategic step with regard to processed meats. A next step is the
strategic extension of the Ready Meals Division.
The Board of Directors has always opted to adapt its governance model to the
interval in which the company is situated. With the appointment of the two
managing directors, operational decision-making is separated from the
chairmanship. As chairman, Luc De Bruyckere continues to perform a number of
executive tasks. For example, he will chair the meetings of the Executive
Committee, direct a number of group services and be responsible for the Group´s
acquisition policy.
Renewed Executive Committee
In light of the foregoing, and on the margins of the recent merger of the
Processed Meats Division of Ter Beke with the Pluma Group, a number of further
changes were made to the management structure of Ter Beke.
Thus Mr Eddy Van der Pluym, former managing director of the Pluma Group, was
appointed as a director of Ter Beke and as a member of the Group´s Executive
Committee. Once the Processed Meats Division has been put into a separate
company, he will also become the chairman of its Board of Directors.
Mr René Stevens, since 1996 Financial Manager of Ter Beke, was appointed by the
Board of Directors as CFO of the Group and, together with Secretary General Dirk
De Backer, as a member of the Executive Committee. Wim De Cock, Group Manager of
Operational Services remains a member of the Board of Directors and completes
the renewed Executive Committee of the Group.
For more information, please contact:
| Media Luc De Bruyckere Executive Chairman Telephone: +32 (0)9 370 13 00 E-mail: luc.debruyckere@terbeke.be |
Investor Relations Dirk De Backer Secretary General Telephone: +32 (0)9 370 12 21 E-mail: dirk.debacker@terbeke.be |
TER BEKE IN BRIEF
Ter Beke (Euronext Brussels: TERB) is an innovative Belgian fresh food group
which markets its assortment in 10 European countries. The group has 2 core
businesses: processed meats and fresh ready meals, possesses 9 industrial
establishments in Belgium, the Netherlands and France and counts over 1,600
employees. A turnover of around 330 million EUR is achieved, based on the 2005
figures.
a. Ter Beke - Pluma Processed Meats Division
- producer of processed meats for the Benelux and pâtés for Germany and the United Kingdom
- turnover of around 230 million EUR (basis 2005)
- 5 production sites in Belgium (Wommelgem, Waarschoot, Marche-en-Famenne, Herstal and Ruiselede) and 3 centres for slicing and packaging of processed meats, including 2 in Belgium (Wommelgem and Veurne) and 1 in the Netherlands (Milsbeek)
- innovative in the segment of pre-packaged processed meats
- distribution brands and own brand names L´Ardennaise, Daniël Coopman and Pluma
- around 900 employees
b. Fresh Ready Meals Division
- producer of fresh ready meals for the European market
- market leader in fresh lasagne in Europe
- turnover of around 106 million EUR (basis 2005)
- 3 production sites, including 2 in Belgium (Wanze and Marche-en-Famenne) and 1 in France (Alby-sur-Chéran)
- brand names Come a casa, Pronto and Vamos along with distribution brands
- around 650 employees
ANNEX: Curriculum Vitae
Marc Hofman is 48 years old, married and the father of 3 sons.
After earning a licenciate degree in Applied Economics at the Vlaamse
Economische Hogeschool, he began his career in 1980 at Arthur Andersen where he
was promoted to manager in 1985.
In 1989 he became Operations Manager at Apple Computer Belgium, where his
responsibilities included Finance, Logistics and IT.
In 1991 he was appointed as CFO at the listed tourism group SUN International,
where he also successfully implement a number of special files.
In 1997 he came to Ter Beke as CFO for the group. His responsibilities rapidly
expanded to include logistics, customer service, acting sales director for the
international business (2001) and from 2003 on he was also responsible for the
group´s Human Resources policy.
That same year he also became a member of the Board of Directors of Ter Beke NV.
Marc Hofman will henceforth bear the final operational responsibility for the
Processed Meats Division.
Marc also holds mandates as an independent director at Van De Velde NV and at
the Social Fund of the Food Industry, and he is a professor at the Ehsal
Management School, where he is currently still teaching Mergers & Acquisitions.
Dirk Van de Walle is 43 years old, married and the father of 3 children.
Dirk received the degree of Commercial Engineer (magna cum laude) at the Rijks
Universitair Centrum in Antwerp in 1988.
That same year he began his career at Union, the margarine division of Unilever
in Belgium and in 1991 moved to Iglo-Ola, Unilever´s deep-freeze and ice cream
division in Belgium. There he carried out various marketing and sales missions
(consumer, B2B, retail and Out-of-Home).
In 1998 Dirk was asked for the ´Ice Cream and Frozen Food Europe´ division of
Unilever in Rotterdam to accept a staff position for all 14 European countries.
In 2001 Dirk came to Ter Beke, as Group Manager Sales & Marketing, for both the
Processed Meats Division and Fresh Ready Meals.
In May 2003 he became an executive member of the Board of Directors of Ter Beke.
Dirk Van de Walle will henceforth bear the final operational responsibility for
the Ready Meals Division and the commercial policy of the Group.
He is also an independent director at Carestel NV.