Bordeaux, 13 May 2026– Fedima, elected a new Board and appointed its new President, Vice-President, and Treasurer during its General Assembly (GA) in Bordeaux, France. The three-day event brought together members from 13 national associations to discuss priorities, address sector challenges, and lay the groundwork for the Association’s next chapter.
On 12 May, the GA elected the new Board, composed of Christof Crone (BZV), Sébastien Jollet (SYFAB), Gemma Auleda (FEDIMA Spain), Christian Skulte (ASSITOL), David Amos (ABIM), Peter Verhagen (NEBAFA), Jérôme Lebriez (Lesaffre), Cristina Piñol (AB Mauri), Juan-Carlos Puente (Zeelandia), Carine Chincholle (CSM Ingredients), and Enric Valls (Puratos). Mehmet Duruk (GIDALBIL), Lluís Borrell (Dawn Foods), and Rolf Ahdell (Orkla Food Ingredients) were also elected as co-opted members. The Board holds a three-year renewable mandate and is responsible for driving the Association's work programme and ensuring alignment with its strategic priorities.
The following day, the newly elected Board appointed the Association's President, Vice-Presidents, and Treasurer. Enric Valls of Puratos was appointed as President, Carine Chincholle of CSM Ingredients and Cristina Piñol of AB Mauri as Vice-Presidents, and Christian Skulte of ASSITOL as Treasurer. Their mandate matches the three-year term of the Board and is renewable.
Enric Valls, newly appointed President of Fedima, said:
Together with the newly appointed Board — our Secretary General, Wouter, our two Vice Presidents, Carine and Cristina, and our Treasurer, Christian — we are committed to moving forward as one united team to deliver on our ambitions and make this vision a reality.
I would like to sincerely thank everyone for their trust and engagement as we embark on this new chapter together.
Turning to the priorities ahead, he added:
“As I take on the Presidency of FEDIMA Europe with both pride and a deep sense of responsibility, I am committed to reinforcing our role as a strong, united and influential voice for the bakery and ingredients sector at European level.
At a time when Europe is redefining its priorities, our industry must speak clearly and with one voice. Bread and bakery products are not only economic assets — they are fundamental to Europe’s nutrition, culture and social fabric, and must be fully recognized in EU policymaking.
Through the FEDIMA Manifesto and the Bread Initiative, we have a unique opportunity to bring the entire value chain together — from ingredients to bakers — and strengthen our collective impact in Brussels and beyond.
Together with FDE and our partners, we will work to build a stronger, more coordinated advocacy platform, ensuring that our sector is heard, understood and supported in key policy areas: simplification, science-based regulation, sustainability and competitiveness.
Our objective is clear: a more coherent and harmonised European framework that reduces unnecessary complexity and unlocks innovation, while safeguarding the essential role of our products in society.
By aligning our efforts and speaking with one voice, we will elevate the importance of the bakery sector in Europe’s agenda — and ensure its resilience, growth and long-term relevance.”
The Board expressed its gratitude to the outgoing leadership for their years of dedication, in particular Thomas Lesaffre as President, Juan-Carlos Puente as Vice-President, and Enric Valls as Treasurer. Thomas Lesaffre marked the occasion with heartfelt words:
“After 8 years as a board member and 3 years as president, it is with a great deal of emotion that I participate in my last Fedima General Assembly in Bordeaux. I would like to thank all the board members for their trust and support, as well as the committee chairs for their commitment. I am confident about the future of Fedima, which is more than ever recognized as a key player in the baking value chain.
I wish Fedima a long life and much success to the newly elected board members and to our secretary General Wouter Lox!”
Fedima works to represent its membership in discussions at EU level, with companies and national associations collaborating to share common positions. The next General Assembly will be announced in due course.