René Ruiter appointed as chief commercial officer of Enza Zaden

Vegetable breeding company Enza Zaden announced the appointment of René Ruiter as chief commercial officer and member of the Board of Directors, effective Oct. 6, 2025.

He succeeds Hein Bemelmans, who, after nearly two decades of leadership, announced his decision to step down at the end of last year. Ruiter and Bemelmans will use the coming months for the handover, after which Bemelmans will remain connected to Enza Zaden in an advisory capacity, supporting the company’s external relationships with stakeholders.

"We are delighted to welcome René to our Board of Directors. His extensive experience in international markets, combined with a strong customer focus and leadership skills, will help us further strengthen our organization and partnerships worldwide," said Enza Zaden CEO Jaap Mazereeuw. "René’s personal fit with our culture makes him the right person to lead our commercial organization into the future."

Ruiter has more than two decades of experience with Koppert Biological Systems, where he held several leadership positions, most recently as chief business officer. His expertise spans global market development, customer engagement and strategic growth initiatives.

"I am excited to join Enza Zaden and contribute to its mission of providing people around the world with access to healthy vegetables," Ruiter said. "The company’s long-term vision, strong values and commitment to innovation resonate deeply with me. I look forward to working closely with the teams and our partners to further strengthen our organization and deliver on our shared ambitions."