De Kuyper Royal Distillers Announces Retirement of CEO Mark de Witte and Appoints Leo Evers as successor

Under de Witte’s leadership, De Kuyper has made great strides towards its ambition to become the globally recognized go-to company for cocktails and one of the main innovation drivers in the cocktail industry. De Kuyper has nearly tripled its turnover during this period. Being awarded “Liqueur Producer of the Year” at the prestigious International Spirits Challenge (ISC) five times in a row (2019-2023) is a clear sign that De Kuyper’s vision to “Own the Cocktail” has given good orientation on this path. Mark de Witte expressed his gratitude and reflected on the journey, saying, “It has been a great privilege to lead De Kuyper through a period of significant transformation and growth. I am very proud of my team and of what we have accomplished together. Also, I am grateful for the confidence and support of the Supervisory Board as well as of the De Kuyper Royal Distillers shareholders. I am confident that Leo Evers is well suited to guide the company into its next chapter. I wish him and the entire De Kuyper team continued success.”

Leo Evers’ impressive career began in 1990 at Bols International, followed by a successful 25-year journey with the Heineken Group, where he held various key positions across seven different countries. In 2021, the Dutch national joined the Executive Committee of Carlsberg as the Executive Vice President Asia. His extensive background in supply chain, sales, marketing, and general management positions, coupled with his rich experience in the FMCG sector, makes him the ideal candidate to lead De Kuyper into the next phase of its development.

Evers expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “For most of my professional career, I have worked for family-owned businesses whose rich heritage I value highly. I love to work for companies with passionate people, fantastic brands, and those that are looking for long-term sustainable growth. De Kuyper has an incredibly rich history encompassing over three centuries and continues to demonstrate its relevance today. Personally, I believe that De Kuyper is a company that is well positioned after the transformation of the last nine years and has massive opportunities for the future, especially by continuing to ‘Own the Cocktail’ and by further expanding internationally. I am very excited and honored to join the De Kuyper team as of April 2024.”

De Kuyper’s Supervisory Board Chairman Dirk-Jan Stoppelenburg also shared his thoughts on the transition, stating, “We extend our deepest appreciation to Mark for his exceptional leadership and remarkable contributions. Under his stewardship, De Kuyper has delivered an impressive performance to become one of the most respected liqueur producers in the world. Mark leaves De Kuyper well positioned for future growth, and we sincerely thank him for everything he has helped us to achieve. We welcome Leo Evers to the company and are confident that his wealth of experience and strategic vision will contribute significantly to our continued success. He brings a strong affinity with the industry, a fantastic drive and energy, a good understanding and experience of a family-owned context, proven strategic abilities, and a personality and leadership style that fits seamlessly with what Mark established for De Kuyper in the past. We wish Mark all the best in his future endeavors and welcome Leo to the company”.