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Henk Beltman
chief chocolate officer @ Tony's Chocolonely
Henk Jan Beltman is a Dutch entrepreneur and business leader, best known for his role as the former CEO and Chief Chocolate Officer of Tony's Chocolonely.
Background and Career
- Beltman studied Business Administration at the University of Groningen. After his studies, he worked in various roles, including intern and marketer at Heineken, and later as a country manager for Innocent Drinks in the Netherlands.234
- In 2010, he joined Tony's Chocolonely, a chocolate company founded by Teun van de Keuken with the mission to eradicate slavery from the cocoa industry. Beltman took a majority stake in the company in 2011 and played a crucial role in its growth and expansion.124
Tony's Chocolonely
- Under Beltman's leadership, Tony's Chocolonely grew significantly, expanding to multiple countries and increasing its workforce from just a few people to over 400. The company is known for its commitment to sourcing cocoa beans from farms that do not use child labor or slavery.124
- Beltman was instrumental in promoting the company's values-based approach, emphasizing transparency, fairness, and sustainability in the chocolate industry. He was recognized for his efforts, including being named Marketeer of the Year in 2016.34
Post-Tony's Chocolonely
- After 12 years with Tony's Chocolonely, Beltman announced his departure from the company, effective October 2024. He will be succeeded by Douglas Lamont, the current CEO of Innocent Drinks.3
- Beltman remains involved with Tony's Chocolonely as a member of the supervisory board and retains a significant portion of the company's shares.3
Other Ventures
- Apart from his work at Tony's Chocolonely, Beltman is the founder of A Genuine Wine Company, which includes wine businesses such as No Housewine and Wereldwijnonline. He is also involved in various other projects, including a new restaurant venture in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, Netherlands.35
Personal Philosophy
- Beltman is driven by a strong belief in the power of business to create positive change. He emphasizes the importance of transparency, honesty, and living out one's values in business practices. He prefers a more humble approach to leadership, often highlighting that his role is not about personal gain but about making a meaningful impact.14



