Chairman's Award 2025

Chairman's Award 2025 - Barry Callebaut

Chairman's Award 2025

The Chairman’s Award was established in 1995 to honor exceptional employees for outstanding work performance and community engagement. Now in its 30th year, the award continues to spotlight individuals who embody our core values: customer focus, passion, entrepreneurship, team spirit, and integrity.
On June 26, 2025, this year’s winners were honored in Zurich, Switzerland, with a special celebration led by Chairman Patrick De Maeseneire, CEO Peter Feld, and Chief People & Diversity Officer Jutta Suchanek.

Congratulations to the 2025 winners!

As the Chairman, I am very proud of the winners, thank you for the inspiration that you bring to Barry Callebaut and for all the incredible work that you do for your communities. On behalf of Peter Feld, Jutta Suchanek, and our 13,000 colleagues worldwide, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Patrick De Maeseneire, Chairman, Barry Callebaut Group

Our Chairman’s Award winners: watch the video of their journey!

Chairman Award winners video - Barry Callebaut

Mrs. Martha Vega
Sales Support
Mexico City / Mexico

Martha Vega is a standout contributor at Barry Callebaut Mexico, known for her precision and problem-solving mindset. She played a key role in optimizing Salesforce for strategic accounts, leading to a 20% improvement in processing speed for customer sourcing information.

Beyond her professional excellence, Martha is a passionate advocate for social impact. Through the Red BAMX Food Bank Initiative, she led a campaign that reached nearly 10,000 people across Mexico. She also supports women recovering from gender-based violence through Las Panas and helps individuals with Downs syndrome find meaningful employment via Fundación Mosaico.

Martha’s dedication to both operational excellence and community empowerment makes her a true ambassador of Barry Callebaut’s values.

 

Mrs. Magdalena Felis
Customer Research and Development Manager
Lodz / Poland

Magdalena Felis is a high-performing leader who truly embodies Barry Callebaut’s values. With passion and determination, she built our Research and Development team in Poland from the ground up, successfully establishing a second innovation hub modeled after our Wieze site, complete with a pilot plant and application lab.

Magda’s impact extends far beyond the workplace. She supports the Empowering Children Foundation, helping children affected by abuse, and volunteers at her son’s school counseling center. Despite the demands of her role and being a single mother, she continues to care for her family and others, even offering shelter and support to neighbors in need.

Her resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication make Magda a trusted colleague and an inspiring force within Barry Callebaut.

 

Mr. Gino Callebaut
Team Leader Liquid
Wieze / Belgium

Gino Callebaut is a natural leader who inspires and unites his team with energy and dedication. As a production team leader, he was the first to include women on his team, fostering a more inclusive and collaborative environment.

Beyond the workplace, Gino’s passion for community shines through his role as chairman of the local carnival committee. Since being elected carnival prince in 2012, he has led the organization of vibrant celebrations that bring people together year after year. His selfless commitment ensures every employee feels valued and every event is unforgettable.

A talented vocalist and songwriter, Gino has written over 250 original songs and regularly performs in retirement homes, spreading joy through music. His voice is a cherished part of carnival parades, making him a beloved figure both at Barry Callebaut and in his community.

 

Mrs. Veronica Dwirah
Food Safety Manager
Accra / Ghana

Veronica Dwirah brings passion and purpose to everything she does. As former Quality Assurance Manager at the Tema, Ghana factory, she played a key role in strengthening team spirit and enhancing the quality mindset. She’s extending that impact across Africa by supporting Quality Assurance Managers and implementing Food Safety Standards.

Outside of work, Veronica and her husband are deeply committed to their community through Yeshua Kingdom Life Church International. They support children’s education, help parents launch small businesses, and provide food and medical aid to families in need. In 2024, their efforts reached over 50 children during a special outreach program.

Veronica’s dedication to excellence and compassion makes her a true role model at Barry Callebaut and beyond.

 

Mr. Deni Lesmana
Document Control
Bandung / Indonesia

Deni Lesmana plays a vital role in ensuring Barry Callebaut’s compliance with standards and certifications. He manages documentation, supports audits, and helps teams maintain quality systems with precision and care.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Deni is deeply committed to education and community development. In his free time, he tirelessly raises funds to build mosques and Islamic boarding schools, believing that knowledge and good deeds must go hand in hand.

Through his dedication, Deni has become a bridge for positive change, inspiring others to contribute to a more enlightened and compassionate society. His leadership, both at work and in his community, reflects the true spirit of service.

 

Mrs. Rebecca Bailey
Manager Research and Development Product Expert
Pennsauken / USA

Rebecca Bailey is a guiding light at Barry Callebaut, known for her dedication, compassion, and unwavering support for others. Her professional excellence is matched by her deep commitment to community service.

Becky actively supports organizations like the Food Bank of South Jersey and Special Olympics, and recently began crafting baby blankets for NICU infants through the Love Apple Quilters Guild. She has also volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House and Haddonfield United Methodist Church, assembling food boxes for families in need.

Balancing her career with caring for her family and mother, Becky leads with heart in every aspect of her life. Her selflessness and strength make her a true inspiration, both in the workplace and beyond.

 

Mr. Szymon Fumalski
Application Support Analyst
Lodz / Poland

Szymon Famulski is a dedicated and reliable team player who consistently exceeds expectations. His positive leadership and alignment with the “One Team, One Vision, One Goal” mindset foster a strong spirit of collaboration and success across projects.

Outside of work, Szymon and his partner Agnieszka have fostered around 25 dogs over the past three years, from abandoned puppies to injured and senior dogs. Their care provides these animals with training, rehabilitation, and love, preparing them for new lives in permanent homes. One such rescue, Pako, recovered from a broken leg and now thrives as the “king of the yard.”

Szymon also works closely with the Judyta Foundation, supporting dogs in need of special care. His compassion and commitment to animal welfare reflect the same values he brings to his professional life.

 

Mr. Luc Rooms
Senior QA Manager Cocoa Supply Chain
Wieze / Belgium

Luc Rooms exemplifies Barry Callebaut’s values through his deep expertise, strategic foresight, and unwavering dedication. During a turbulent time across the industry, his leadership was instrumental in maintaining product quality and customer trust, leaving a lasting impact on the company.

With 39 years of service, Luc’s commitment extends far beyond the workplace. He and his wife Ann have long supported education initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are active in a Belgian charity that funds projects for those in need. Luc is also a trusted mentor, offering guidance and support to colleagues.

His legacy of excellence, compassion, and resilience makes him a truly remarkable member of Barry Callebaut.

 

Mrs Jenna De Villiers
Customer R&D SEWA
Johannesburg / South Africa

Jenna De Villiers is a humble and proactive force in Research and Development, known for fostering collaboration, solving problems, and motivating her team. Her leadership reflects Barry Callebaut’s values of care, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

At home in South Africa, Jenna and her family support underprivileged children at their local primary school, the same one their own children attend. They help cover school fees, fund sports tours, and ensure every child feels included, even receiving birthday gifts of their choice. Their goal is to create equal opportunities and a sense of belonging for every child.

Jenna exemplifies the values of kindness, inclusion, and fostering a brighter future for everyone.

 

Mrs. Zoe Lu
Import / Export Supervisor
Suzhou / China

Zoe Lu is a dynamic and innovative force at Barry Callebaut, known for her proactive approach and deep regulatory knowledge. She successfully navigated complex import laws to bring cocoa tree leaves into China for testing and developed a reefer transport solution from Europe during the Red Sea crisis, ensuring timely delivery for key customers.

Zoe’s impact goes beyond logistics. She’s a dedicated mentor, having spent two months coaching a supply chain trainee from Malaysia. From professional guidance to practical tips on life in Suzhou, Zoe ensured his transition was smooth and enriching.

Her technical expertise, collaborative spirit, and genuine care for others make Zoe an exceptional colleague and an inspiring mentor.

You might also be interested in:

Contáctese con nosotros