SWITZERLAND – Zurich-based cocoa processor and chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has made new executive appointments in its procurement and human resource departments as it seeks to ensure a smooth transition following exit of former CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique.

According to a statement from the company, Massimo Selmo, currently, head of global sourcing, will become the first-ever chief procurement officer of the chocolate company.  

Selmo who has worked at Barry Callebaut for 25 years, including 23 as head of global sourcing will also become a member of the executive committee.  

During his tenure at Barry, Selmo has been a key driver of the company’s goal of making sustainable chocolate the norm by 2025. In the fiscal year 2019-2020, 61% of Barry Callebaut’s non-cocoa ingredients were sourced sustainably. 

Mr. Selmo previously worked at KPMG and has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. 

In another executive move, Barry appointed  Masha Vis-Mertens to succeed Isabelle Esser as the chief human resources officer and a member of the executive committee.  

Until her appointment, Vis-Mertens served Barry as the vice president of operations and supply chain EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa).  

Ms. Vis-Mertens joined Barry Callebaut in 2012 as global corporate account manager, operations, and supply chain and then became global corporate account director in 2014.  

She was named vice president of human resources EMEA in 2017 and then vice president of operations and supply chain EMEA in 2019.  

She has a bachelor’s degree in French and Russian and a master’s degree in European studies from the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  

She also has an executive master’s degree from the University of Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium and had previously worked for Cargill.  

“I warmly welcome Masha and Massimo to the executive committee of Barry Callebaut,” said Peter Boone, chief executive officer.  

“Their longstanding and highly successful track record at Barry Callebaut, in combination with their diverse experience, will ensure a smooth transition, as well as continuity in the implementation of our growth strategy combined with fresh insights into its execution.” 

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