Barentz appoints Derk Jan Terhorst as group CEO
NETHERLANDS – Barentz, a global supplier of specialty ingredients, has announced the appointment of Derk Jan Terhorst as its Group Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
Terhorst takes over from Terry Hill, who has been serving as Interim CEO since May 2024.
With a background in financial management and corporate strategy, Terhorst has been with Barentz for over three years as Group Chief Financial Officer.
During his time in the role, he played a key part in shaping the company’s strategic vision and guiding its operational activities.
Before joining Barentz, Terhorst held leadership roles at Ahold Delhaize and Tony’s Chocolonely, where he acquired extensive experience in financial operations in Europe and the United States.
Commenting on the leadership change, Ben Osnabrug, a partner at Cinven and member of the Barentz Supervisory Board, stated that Terhorst’s comprehensive understanding of the company’s operations and his proven ability to achieve results made him well-suited to lead the organization into its next phase of development.
Osnabrug also thanked Hill for his contribution as Interim CEO during the transitional period.
Terhorst expressed his commitment to the new role, saying, “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Barentz. Collaborating with our global teams, we will continue focusing on key priorities such as principal management, driving sales, and enhancing operational efficiencies to address future challenges and opportunities.”
The company has also announced plans to appoint a new Chief Financial Officer, with the transition expected to take effect on May 1, 2025.
In the meantime, Terhorst will continue handling CFO responsibilities alongside his new duties.
Operating in more than 70 countries, Barentz has a significant presence in Europe and North America, with ongoing expansion efforts in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.
The company, which serves over 27,000 customers worldwide, reported a turnover of approximately US$2.6 billion.
Barentz specializes in supplying ingredients for the food and beverage manufacturing sector, positioning itself as a prominent player in the global market.
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