BRUSSELS, Belgium – The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) said that Chris Vincent, previously its Interim President, has been appointed the new President of the sustainability organization and that Peter Boone, Chief Executive Officer of Barry Callebaut, has become its new chairman.
Vincent and Boone, the first CEO to hold the chairmanship, were appointed after a vote by WCF’s Board of Directors. Vincent succeeds Martin Short, who resigned in August. Boone succeeds Barry Parkin, Chief Procurement and Sustainability Officer, of Mars Incorporated, who led the non-profit’s Board for eight years. Parkin will continue to serve at the Foundation as a Board Member, representing Mars Incorporated.
“I am excited about becoming the new President of the World Cocoa Foundation and look forward to working with our partners in government, industry, civil society and farming communities to increase the pace at which we bring greater sustainability to the cocoa sector,” said Vincent. “It is a huge vote of confidence in WCF to have someone with Peter’s seniority and experience becoming our new chairman and we are enormously grateful to Barry Parkin for his service over the last eight years.”
The Board also appointed two new Board Officers: Tricia Brannigan, Chief Procurement Officer and Vice President Global Procurement at The Hershey Company; and Peter Blommer, Vice Chairman of Blommer. Christine McGrath, Vice President and Chief of Global Impact, Sustainability, and Well-being, at Mondelēz International, remains as a Board Officer for another term.
“With both cocoa origin countries and cocoa consuming countries implementing new initiatives for a sustainable cocoa supply chain, this is a unique time for forging a shared vision. I am honored to have been elected chairman of the World Cocoa Foundation, as it is uniquely placed to be a constructive partner on behalf of the cocoa and chocolate industry in crafting this vision,” said Boone.
“I’m pleased that during my time as Chairman at the Foundation we have seen an unprecedented increase in industry wide collaboration, most notably with the launch of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative,” said Parkin. “I know that under Peter this work will go on to even greater achievements.”
The new WCF Board officers replace two outgoing officers: Gerry Manley, Chief Executive Officer of Olam Cocoa, and Steven Retzlaff, President Global Cocoa at Barry Callebaut.
