After 14 years of leadership under Anton Kruger, South Africa’s Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum welcomes new chief executive with strong background in agricultural strategy and commercial development

Piet de Jager FPEF South Africa

Piet de Jager

South Africa’s Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF) has appointed Piet de Jager as its new chief executive officer.

He takes over from Anton Kruger, who has held the position for the past 14 years.

Kruger said he had to negotiate various ebbs and flows at the FPEF over his time at the head of the association.

“I appreciate both the victories and the challenges that I’ve navigated alongside my team, as well as the human connections made,” he said.

De Jager is a qualified Chartered Accountant, and has held CEO roles at Agrimall Africa and AgriSA Enterprises, while serving as managing director at Ecofarma Southern Africa and director at Into Africa Solution Services T/A Afrilogic. 

FPEF said De Jager’s career across the agriculture value chain has equipped him with vital skills in strategic relationship building, and development and implementation of targeted strategies for large commercial impact.

“During the past 20 years he has built a deep understanding of how policy, trade, market development, transformation and innovation intersect in the sector,” FPEF noted.