CONO Dairy farmer Gerben van Diepen was appointed chairman of CONO Cheese Makers at the general members' meeting on 17 November. Van Diepen took over the chairman's gavel from Evert Kremer, who since 2018 had been chairman of the dairy cooperative that celebrates its 120th anniversary this year.anniversary.

Gerben van Diepen on his appointment: "I consider it an honour and a challenge to be part of the CONO Kaasmakers cooperative in these dynamic times for the sector. Together we have been working for years to achieve a leading milk price for our member dairy farmers. This will not change. I am enormously driven to work for a future-proof cooperative. By being a leader in the field of quality, sustainability and animal welfare and by taking every opportunity to do so.

"Gerben van Diepen is broadly oriented and knows what is going on in the agricultural world, but also beyond. Gerben is a true North Hollander with a clear opinion and strong numerical insight," said outgoing chairman Evert Kremer. "Like the CONO Board, I have every confidence in Gerben as chairman and we see him as an important link in the further success of cooperative CONO Kaasmakers."

Managing Director Wim Betten adds: "In Gerben van Diepen we have a down-to-earth farmers' chairman with excellent managerial qualities. I am looking forward to the collaboration."

About Gerben van Diepen
The 43-year-old Van Diepen has a dairy farm with 75 dairy cows and 30 young cattle in Graft (NH). Van Diepen brings with him a great deal of administrative experience. Before Van Diepen was elected general board member of CONO in 2018, he was chairman of the cooperative's youth committee for three years. In addition, Van Diepen gained his administrative experience as treasurer of the HAJK (Hollands Agrarisch Jongeren Kontact), among others, and as a departmental board member of LTO Noord and the agricultural nature association Water, Land and Dijken.