The Greenery hands CEO role to David Markowski

Dutch fresh produce marketer The Greenery has appointed David Markowski as its new chief executive officer.

Markowski, who has been with the group in various executive roles since November 2019, succeeds Steven Martina, who left for Zespri in August.

In his most recent position as group strategy director, he is widely regarded as one of the driving forces behind Focus 2025, a project to strengthen The Greenery’s competitive position and to boost returns to its partner growers.

“I am very much looking forward to ensuring the successful rollout of Focus 2025 in this role, with the aim of establishing a stronger competitive position and maximum value creation for our growers,” said Markowski, who was also previously the group’s director of growers.

He said he believed that a fast-changing industry trend towards more vertically integrated, field-to-fork supply chains in recent years had placed greater pressure on margins and partnerships along those chains. That was something he wanted to tackle head on, he said.

“As a management team, we want to transform The Greenery into a flatter, more agile organisation that is better suited to the challenging landscape of the fruit and vegetable chain.”

As a major supplier of a range of fresh fruit and vegetables, The Greenery certainly plays a crucial role not only for growers but for also for consumers.

That importance seems likely to increase further, given that sourcing of the right products, along supply chains that are sustainable in every sense for all concerned, is going to be more of a challenge in the future.

“I am convinced that with the further roll-out of the Focus 2025 strategy, we will make a future-proof organisation that adds great value within the chain,” Markowski added.

Leadership pedigree

Markowski previously held several management positions before joining The Greenery, including various European roles at telecom provider Liberty Global, within ABN Amro’s M&A team, and as COO at digital media agency 9024 Media.

According to The Greenery, during that time he led a number of transformations and “supervised business takeover processes”.

“Furthermore, these roles allowed David to demonstrate that he is able to accelerate the transformation of an organisation and adapt it to changing circumstances by working from a clear vision and applying steady, hands-on leadership,” it observed.

Niels Zuurbier, chairman of The Greenery’s supervisory board, commented: “David has gained a lot of experience within our company, our chain, and among our members through his final responsibilities in HR, Strategy and Growers.

“Combined with his strong leadership and strategic vision, we are convinced he is the right person to lead our organisation, with the implementation of the Focus 2025 strategy, into the future and continued success. A Greenery that is even more agile, competitive and successful. And thereby ensuring maximum value creation for our growers.”