Peter Poortinga Appointed as CEO of Solynta

Solynta, a Dutch hybrid potato breeder, has announced that Peter Poortinga will join the organization as CEO beginning on September 15th. Hein Kruyt, who co-founded Solynta in 2007 and will remain its CFO, is succeeded by him.

“I have had the pleasure of working closely with Peter in his role as Chair of our Supervisory Board over the last year and a half, and I am certain that Peter’s experience will boost Solynta’s scaling capabilities and help us achieve our vision for a more sustainable future. Peter has an impressive track record in the agriculture food industry as an entrepreneur and, lastly as CEO of Plukon Food Group, which he scaled to a thriving EUR3bn multinational enterprise and industry leader. Next to that he also brings subject matter knowledge, since he studied agronomy at Wageningen University with a focus on potato science. Our skills complement each other and I look forward to working even more closely with Peter in Solynta’s next exciting chapter of growth,” Hein Kruyt, co-founder and current CEO of Solynta, mentioned.

Peter Poortinga is looking forward to the new position.

“I am convinced that the technology Solynta has developed is the future of potatoes - for consumers, farmers, processors, and the planet. Solynta’s mission to make a positive contribution to farmer economics and world food security is one I fully agree with, and the progress they have made to deliver potato varieties with natural protection against pests and diseases proves their commitment to this vision. I am looking forward to working with Hein and the team and contributing to Solynta’s future as the leading potato-seed innovation company. Together, we will empower the potato value chain with new, robust potato varieties,” Poortinga added.

Changes in the Supervisory Board

Juergen Steinemann, a current member of the Solynta Supervisory Board, will take on the role of Chairman of the Supervisory Board following Peter Poortinga's nomination as CEO. Juergen has held executive positions at Barry Callebaut and Nutreco, among other accomplishments. He is now a member of the Metro AG, Lonza Group AG, Big Dutchman, and Barentz Supervisory Boards. He possesses exceptional knowledge of the agriculture and food sectors.

“Solynta has entered the next phase of growth. After its breakthrough discovery in potato breeding, it is now on its way to achieving commercial impact, as well as its aim of becoming the world’s leading potato breeding company. I’m excited to support Solynta in my new role. Hein and the team have been developing Solynta since 2007. Their vision and perseverance turned an idea into a successful scale-up company that has started recently commercializing its first products. The Supervisory Board thanks Hein for his leadership and looks forward to his continued support to the team as CFO, the role he held at various companies before his current position. Peter’s election as CEO will help the company to grow further, mainly thanks to the experience and knowledge he brings from his previous role at Plukon Food Group,” New Supervisory Board Chair, Juergen Steinemann, concluded.