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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

Highlights

Jul 9 · adformatie.nl
Henk Jan Beltman: 'Het succes van Tony's is boven mezelf ...
Henk Jan Beltman: 'Het succes van Tony's is boven mezelf ...
May 8 · raconteur.net
Tony's Chocolonely CEO on values-based leadership - Raconteur
Tony's Chocolonely CEO on values-based leadership - Raconteur
Jun 1 · mastersexpo.com
Henk Jan Beltman: 'With a company you can make the world more ...
Henk Jan Beltman: 'With a company you can make the world more ...

Related Questions

What inspired Henk Jan Beltman to start A Genuine Wine Company?
How did Henk Jan Beltman's experience at Tony's Chocolonely influence his approach to sustainable entrepreneurship?
What are the main principles of A Genuine Wine Company?
How does Henk Jan Beltman integrate sustainability into his wine business?
What challenges did Henk Jan Beltman face when transitioning from chocolate to wine?
Henk Beltman
Henk Beltman, photo 1
Henk Beltman, photo 2
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Location

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands