Jacques Crahay, current CEO of Cosucra, will leave his role after more than 20 years at the head of the company. Eric Bosly, appointed as his successor, will officially take over the role on 1 March 2022.
The last of 14 brothers and sisters forming the 5th generation, Crahay is the 6th manager of the company. Trained as a civil engineer, Crahay was responsible for a strategic transformation which saw the business move away from sugar to develop specialty food ingredients made from chicory and yellow peas raw materials grown in the soil and harvested in nature.
Crahay said: “Getting closer to consumers by offering them healthy food ingredients, of plant origin and concentrated by physical processes makes a lot of sense. This way, we pass along the benefits of our agriculture practices to help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, to reverse the negative impact on earth from climate change and to contribute to the well-being health of all consumers.”
From 2018 to 2021, he also served as President of the Union Wallonie des Entreprises (Walloon Union of Companies), where he focused on topics close to his heart such as the transformation of businesses towards a more sustainable world.
Of his successor, Crahay said: "For me, Eric was the right candidate for the next CEO very early on. He has a high level of resilience and passion towards the company that has never failed. [...] I see him taking on new responsibilities of CEO with ease and adding his specific talents: boundless creativity that fuels innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and strong business judgement [...].”
Bosly has a master's degree in engineering science and more than 20 years of experience in the company in both operational and commercial roles, including Director of Operations and Global Commercial Director. In recent years, the company has continued to elevate its global pea protein capabilities by expanding a pea product factory in Denmark.
Bosly said: "I want to continue and strengthen Cosucra's role in providing food ingredients grown in nature and used to manufacture finished products for consumers that not only significantly reduces carbon emissions but also improve health & wellness in our global society... [...] To me, this purpose driven journey is at the core of our family’s values that has spanned 170 years, and it is a privilege that we feel honoured to have."
