Kiremko, Idaho Steel, and Reyco announce new leadership

Kiremko, Idaho Steel, and Reyco have announced the appointment of Gerardo Chiaia as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Kees van der Drift as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The appointments mark the start of a new phase for the three companies, which are now operating under shared ownership following their acquisition by Investindustrial.

The Group aims to strengthen its position in the global food processing systems market, focusing on integration and continued development across its operations.

Gerardo Chiaia brings more than 25 years of international experience in the advanced manufacturing and packaging industries. He previously served as President at Husky Injection Molding Systems, overseeing global business units across Asia and beyond, and as CEO of Logoplaste, a multinational company specialising in rigid plastic packaging.

"As Kiremko, Idaho Steel and Reyco move forward together, we acknowledge the contributions of the Oosterlaken, Gowing, Bradshaw and Christensen families for their long-standing commitment and leadership," said Chiaia. "Our goal is to build on this legacy and strengthen our role as a global provider of food processing systems, combining engineering expertise, innovation, and service."

Kees van der Drift, the newly appointed CFO, has more than four decades of experience in international finance, mergers and acquisitions, and business transformation. He previously held CFO positions at Ammeraal Beltech and Datamars, where he was involved in M&A integration and financial strategy.

"This is an important step in bringing together three complementary businesses," said van der Drift. "By uniting Kiremko, Idaho Steel, and Reyco, we aim to create a more efficient and agile organisation that can better serve customers and drive sustainable growth."

With Investindustrial's backing, the Group plans to expand its presence in the global food processing industry, with a continued focus on innovation, quality, and reliability across the potato processing value chain.

The Group Executive Team will include Gerardo Chiaia as President and CEO, Kees van der Drift as CFO, Marcel van Huissteden as President EMEA, Asia & Pacific, and Jon Christensen as President Americas.