Presco Plc appoints ew Non-Executive Board Director

By Damilare Adeleye

Nigeria’s integrated agro-industrial company, Presco Plc, has announced the appointment of Belgian agribusiness executive François Van Hoydonck as a non-executive director to its board.

In a notice issued on Friday to the Nigerian Exchange Limited and company shareholders, Board Secretary Frederick Ichekwai stated that the appointment was made to fill a casual vacancy.

Presco added that the appointment will be presented to shareholders for ratification at the company’s next Annual General Meeting.

According to the company, Van Hoydonck is “a seasoned business executive and finance professional with over four decades of experience in the agribusiness and plantation sector.”

The statement noted that the Belgian national, born on August 29, 1959, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy and Tax Law from St. Eligius Business School in Antwerp, Belgium, and has been a member of the Institute for Accountants and Bookkeepers since 1983.

Presco stated that Van Hoydonck commenced his professional career with SIPEF in July 1979 and later served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer from February 1995 to August 2007.

“He was responsible for the Group’s financial management and strategic financial planning,” the company stated.

The statement further disclosed that he was appointed Managing Director of SIPEF in September 2007 and remained in the role until September 2024.

During this tenure, he provided strategic leadership and contributed significantly to the growth and development of the Group’s international agribusiness operations.

Following his retirement as Managing Director of SIPEF on September 1, 2024, Van Hoydonck continued to serve on that company’s board as a non-executive director.

The company also noted that he currently serves as a director of Jabelmalux SA, a non-executive director of Verdant Bioscience in Singapore, and was appointed an independent non-executive director of the SIAT Group in June 2025.

Welcoming the appointment, Presco stated that the board looks forward to his valuable contributions to the company.