From the farmyard to global supply chains

1984: Growing up on the family farm

With flower bulbs in the Netherlands, carrots in France and a farm in Egypt, agriculture was in René’s DNA from an early age. While others were fascinated by the latest machinery, René was captivated by the people behind it: their stories, the conversations at the table and the way agriculture brings different worlds together.

Today, he connects growers, packers, retailers and breeders around the world, leading a team dedicated to making KWS Vegetables’ spinach and Swiss chard varieties successful worldwide.

2001: From agriculture to business management

Crops were familiar territory. But René became just as curious about what happened next. How do products reach the right place? Who decides what gets grown? And how do all the different links in the chain work together? Studying Agricultural Business Management gave him deeper insight into these questions.

2005: Discovering the sector

After an internship followed by a 10-year career at Enza Zaden, René found himself working in the Mediterranean region. Surrounded by tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, he learned how different growers, markets and production systems can be. What started as a technical role gradually developed into a commercial position with increasing responsibility.

2014: Pioneering at KWS Vegetables

Time for a new challenge at KWS Vegetables. While René had worked in an established market at Enza Zaden, he was now given the task of developing new markets. A role where pioneering became just as important as experience.

2018: The world at his feet

New markets don’t emerge behind a desk. They are built by meeting people, strengthening relationships and being where opportunities arise. René takes that approach across the globe: from Russia and Ukraine to Central Asia, and later with a strong focus on North and South America.

2026: A different role, the same curiosity

First, the focus was on crops. Then on markets. Now, increasingly, it is about people. As Global Team Lead, René helps teams grow, work together and develop new solutions. Every step along the way has given him a new perspective on the same sector. And that is exactly why he is nowhere near done yet.

Fun fact: Always ready for the next adventure. The world remains René’s playground. That suitcase is often waiting by the front door, with a quick wash in between trips, of course.