Presco Appoints Former SIPEF Managing Director François Van Hoydonck to Board

Presco Plc has announced the appointment of Mr. François Van Hoydonck as a Non-Executive Director, strengthening its board with an experienced agribusiness and finance professional with more than four decades of industry experience.

The company disclosed the appointment in a notification to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), stating that Van Hoydonck was appointed to fill a casual vacancy on the Board of Directors.

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

Van Hoydonck brings extensive experience in agribusiness, plantation management, finance and corporate governance gained through a long career with Belgian agribusiness group SIPEF.

He began his career with SIPEF in 1979 and rose through the ranks to become the group’s Chief Financial Officer in 1995. During his tenure as CFO, he was responsible for financial management and strategic planning across the company’s international operations.

In 2007, he was appointed Managing Director and Director of SIPEF, positions he held until his retirement from executive management in September 2024.

During his leadership, SIPEF expanded its international agribusiness operations and strengthened its position within the plantation sector.

Following his retirement as Managing Director, Van Hoydonck continued serving on the SIPEF Board as a Non-Executive Director.

Beyond SIPEF, he currently serves as a Director of Jabelmalux SA and a Non-Executive Director of Verdant Bioscience in Singapore. In June 2025, he was also appointed an Independent Non-Executive Director of the SIAT Group.

Presco stated that the new director brings valuable expertise in international business management, finance, governance and agribusiness operations, which are expected to support the company’s long-term growth objectives.

The company said the Board looks forward to benefiting from his extensive industry knowledge and strategic insights as Presco continues to strengthen its position in Nigeria’s agricultural and palm oil sector.

Presco remains one of Nigeria’s leading agro-industrial companies with significant investments across oil palm cultivation, processing and value-added agricultural products.

The appointment of an experienced international agribusiness executive is expected to further enhance the company’s governance structure and strategic oversight as it pursues growth opportunities within the sector.