Employee Profile
Name: Inge D.
Title: Managing Director Europe Chocolate
Career Area:
General Management,
Sales & Commercial
Location: Mouscron, Belgium
Education: Master’s degree in Economics, University of Leuven
“Cargill allows people the freedom to success and allows you to grow your career path in the way you’d like. Cargill is result driven and asks for a lot of commitment from employees. When you perform, you get opportunities.”
Cargill allows people the freedom to succeed and allows you to grow your career path in the way you’d like. Cargill is results driven and asks for a lot of commitment from employees. When you perform, you get opportunities.
Describe your work responsibilities and the importance of your role.
In 2014 I moved into the managing director role for our chocolate business. A major part of this role is that I am responsible for the overall profit and loss of our eight chocolate plants in Europe. In addition I also define the strategy for the European region of Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate and support our teams in ensuring we keep the right talent, and support the execution of Cargill’s priorities.
Describe your day-to-day activities and the skills needed to perform well.
Coaching and support direct reports.
- Follow up and implementing key Business Unit priorities
- Visiting our customers
- Supporting site managers as required
Describe your career path. Where did you start and how did you get to where you are today?
I began my career as a sales manager in the meal and oils sector for the food industry, later moving into oil seed purchasing. Then I became a trader in vegetable oils for bottled oils. My first role in the cocoa and chocolate business was as a risk manager, responsible for trading desk and the purchase of cocoa and non-cocoa raw materials. What do you find most rewarding about your work? The most rewarding part of my work is:
- Seeing my teams performing well in an independent way
- Appreciation from my teams for the support I provide
- Appreciation from my manager for the results I achieve
- Seeing talented people from my teams grow and moving on further within the Cargill organization
- Talking to and supporting my people and seeing the end results achieved from my input.
Why did you choose to join Cargill and what keeps you here? In other words, how has a career at Cargill helped you to thrive?
I decided to join Cargill because it is a large multinational company with great opportunities for career growth. My role encourages me to be creative every day, and gives me the possibility to collaborate with my teams in an environment with great values. One of my goals in life is to be able to give my family and myself the freedom to make our own choices and Cargill gives me this.
What advice would you give someone interested in a career at Cargill like yours?
To go for it and apply all your ambition. At Cargill it will be rewarded as you take ownership of your own career.
Share an interesting tidbit about yourself such as hobbies, volunteerism, favorite foods or activities, accomplishments inside or outside of work.
The most important part of life for me is family and enjoying our life together. I have two girls, and a wonderful husband. Having a great balance between work and family is very important to me – and Cargill helps me achieve this.