The board of directors of Barry Callebaut AG, a manufacturer of cocoa and chocolate products, has appointed Hans P. Vriens to the newly created position of chief innovation officer and member of the management team effective December 1, 2005.
Since 2001, Vriens has been the owner of VF&Co. b.v. in Amsterdam, Netherlands, a holding company which invests in and develops new consumer brands for itself and for third-party customers. Activities include the consulting of large multinational companies in the development of functional foods, a partnership selling an energy drink in a new packaging concept, as well as the production and distribution of a functional dairy product.