Barry Callebaut Appointed New Benelux Managing Director

Stefanie De Roover assumed the leadership role for the Benelux region on 1 September 2026.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in People

Isometric editorial illustration of industrial cocoa processing equipment with steel silos and piping in muted earth tones.
Stefanie De Roover has been appointed as Barry Callebaut's Managing Director for the Benelux region, effective September 1, 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Stefanie De Roover began her tenure as Managing Director for the Benelux region at Barry Callebaut on 1 September 2026. She previously served as the company's Sales & Marketing Director for the same region.

Why it matters

The appointment is intended to support the implementation of the Focus for Growth program. The company aims to capitalize on new growth opportunities specifically within the Benelux market.

Barry Callebaut generated 14.8 billion Swiss francs in revenue during the 2024/2025 fiscal year. The company maintains more than 60 production facilities and employs over 13,000 people worldwide.

The players

Stefanie De Roover

She is the newly appointed Managing Director for Barry Callebaut's Benelux region.

Alvaro Alonso

He serves as the president for Western Europe at Barry Callebaut and oversees regional leadership.

Barry Callebaut

This Switzerland-based company is a leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products.

The details

De Roover brings over 15 years of industry experience, including previous management roles at Beneo, to her new position. She reports directly to Alvaro Alonso, who serves as the president for Western Europe.

Timeline

  1. Barry Callebaut generated 14.8 billion Swiss francs in revenue during the 2024/2025 fiscal year.

  2. De Roover held the Sales & Marketing Director position over the past two years.

  3. De Roover assumed the Benelux Managing Director role on 1 September 2026.

Market Landscape

The transition follows the strategic restructuring laid out in the Focus for Growth program. This move positions the firm to better compete by aligning regional leadership with broader corporate goals for Western Europe.

The leadership change serves as an internal organizational shift that generally does not impact current product pricing or consumer availability for retail shoppers. Customers should expect business operations within the Benelux region to continue without interruption.

The takeaway

Internal executive promotions often signal a company's commitment to existing long-term strategic plans. Investors and stakeholders typically view consistent leadership transitions as a sign of operational continuity.

Further reading

For more on industry leadership changes, visit the People section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by RetailDetail.

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