Paul Coenen retires - Kristophe Thijs takes the helm

After 22 years as managing director of Flanders' agricultural marketing office VLAM in Cologne, Paul Coenen is retiring at the end of the year.

From January 2012, Kristophe Thijs will take over the management. The 36-year-old Fleming worked as an editor at the media group Concerta after studying communications management at the University of Applied Sciences in Antwerp. After further training in communications and press work, Thijs worked for six years as communications manager and team leader for sales promotion at the feed manufacturer Nutreco Feed Belgium.

In his new role, the managing director will be responsible for promoting Flemish agricultural products (meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, potatoes, dairy products, fruit, dairy products and ornamental plants) in Germany. In addition to press and public relations work, VLAM Cologne coordinates Flanders' trade fair appearances at leading trade fairs in the agricultural sector and is in constant dialogue with food retailers and wholesalers.

VLAM Brussels has its own offices in the most important foreign markets, Germany (Cologne) and France (Paris): With around 300.000 tons of pork, the lion's share of Belgian meat exports goes to Germany. In addition, the Belgians deliver around 165.000 tons of vegetables to their eastern neighbors every year. This is also number one on the customer list. And last but not least, Germany imports ornamental plants from Belgium with a total value of almost EUR 35 million per year. 

Source: Köln [VLAM]