FoodDrinkEurope appoints new Director General

FoodDrinkEurope is pleased to announce the appointment of Dirk Jacobs as its new Director General, effective from 1 January 2022. He takes over from Mella Frewen, who stepped down after almost 15 years in the role. Mr Jacobs’ task will be to guide the organisation of Europe’s food and drink industry – a sector with almost 290,000 businesses – in its mission to help deliver more sustainable food systems.

Mr Jacobs, a Dutch national, has been with FoodDrinkEurope since 2010, holding various roles within the organisation. For the past eight years he has been Deputy Director General and has headed its department for consumer information, nutrition and health topics. Most recently, he played a pivotal role working with the European Commission and other food chain stakeholders to develop the EU Code of Conduct for Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices, launched in July 2021.  

FoodDrinkEurope President and Nestlé Europe CEO, Marco Settembri, said: “The future of Europe’s food and drink industry is in good hands. Dirk is highly competent and ambitious, and our companies, national federations and sector organisations will give him their full support in his mission to lead the industry to deliver truly sustainable food systems.”

Fooddrinkeurope.com