• Board of Management change builds foundation for further sustainable growth
• Current CFO Kai Wehmeyer retires after 25 years in office
• Executive Director Robert Jan Lousberg will leave the company on 30 September 2024 

A change of generation in the Board of Management of Big Dutchman AG in Germany: with effect from 1 October 2024, the Supervisory Board has appointed Erkul Basaran as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The 47-year-old business administration graduate and qualified auditor succeeds Kai Wehmeyer, who is retiring.

Kai Wehmeyer was CFO of the family-owned company for 25 years. During this time, he played a key role in the impressive growth of the entire group, which today employs more than 3100 people and is active in over 150 countries.

Wehmeyer will be succeeded by Erkul Basaran, a certified financial expert with many years of experience in the agricultural sector. After completing his studies at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, Basaran worked for the consulting firm KPMG for several years and was most recently CFO of the Farm Technologies division at the GEA group in Bönen (Germany), a systems supplier for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Basaran is married and has three children.

Bernd Meerpohl, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Big Dutchman AG: “Erkul Basaran will help to strengthen our family business with his financial expertise and in-depth knowledge of the industry.”

Dr. Frank Hiller, CEO: “I am looking forward to working with Erkul Basaran. With his experience and knowledge of farm technology and farm management systems, he is an excellent fit for Big Dutchman.”

At the same time, the Big Dutchman family bids farewell to Kai Wehmeyer, one of the longest-serving members of the Board of Management. Bernd Meerpohl: “As CFO, Kai Wehmeyer played a decisive role in shaping our company over the past 25 years. On behalf of the Supervisory Board and the owner family, I would like to thank him most sincerely. We wish him all the best for his retirement. Simultaneously, we are delighted that Kai Wehmeyer will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity in the future.”

Robert Jan Lousberg will also leave the company at his own request on 30 September 2024. As Executive Director of Big Dutchman, Lousberg has been responsible for the Global Engineering division and the subsidiaries since 2016. In particular, he promoted the insect farming and greenhouse construction business segments. His previous duties will be assumed by the members of the Board of Management.

“On behalf of the Supervisory Board and the family, I would like to thank Robert Jan Lousberg, especially for his commitment to the new business units within the group, and wish him all the best for his future plans,” says Bernd Meerpohl.

“With the changes to the Board of Management, we are creating a strong foundation for further sustainable growth. We will continue to expand our range of future-oriented high-tech solutions in the interests of our customers worldwide, and operate even more efficiently,” says Dr. Frank Hiller, CEO of Big Dutchman AG. “As the management team of a family business, we feel obliged to always take action for future generations.”