New CEO named for algal oil maker Veramaris
Veramaris, which supplies omega-3-rich algal oil for salmon feed, has appointed Mark van Nieuwland as chief executive to succeed Gertjan de Koning from January 1, 2026.
The company is headquartered in Delft, Netherlands, and produces oil in Blair, Nebraska, in the United States. It said algal oil is now firmly established as a mainstream ingredient in aquafeed, and that it is now focusing on unlocking new opportunities across the value chain.
“This next phase will see the company deepen its partnerships, expand its operational footprint, and continue to deliver immediate impact for customers seeking to secure supplies of essential omega-3s from a certified sustainable source,” Veramaris said in a press release.
“Since its inception, Veramaris’ ambition has been to help aquaculture grow sustainably by closing the essential omega-3 supply gap. As the company enters its next chapter, the focus is on scaling responsibly, supporting partners with reliable nutrition solutions, and enabling the industry to plan with greater confidence.”
Leadership changes
Several leadership changes have been made to support the strategy.
These include the appointment of van Nieuwland, and a switch of roles for global marketing director Ian Carr, who has now become chief commercial officer. Holger Kinzel, who joined Veramaris at the same time as de Koning, will remain chief financial officer/choef operating officer.
Veramaris said van Nieuwland brings a strong entrepreneurial background to the company and will join this month to ensure a smooth handover on January 1.
He was most recently CEO of Bovaer, a company producing a feed product of the same name that is said to reduce methane emissions by an average of 30% for dairy cattle and up to 45% for beef cattle, but which has also been accused by some farmers of harming their stock.
Bovaer is part of Dutch-Swiss chemicals and pharma corporation DSM-Firmenich, which co-owns Veramaris with Germany-based global speciality chemicals maker Evonik.
“I’m honoured to take up this role, and look forward to build on the impressive track record of Veramaris as a leader in sustainable algal oil and a trusted supplier of omega-3 EPA & DHA,” said van Nieuwland.
Philip Eykerman, president strategy, M&A and transformation of Veramaris co-owner DSM-Firmenich, has succeeded Andre Bos as Veramaris board president, effective November 1.
An industry leader
“I would personally like to thank Gertjan for his strong stewardship of Veramaris over the last three years,” said Eykerman.
“He has transformed Veramaris from a struggling startup into a profitable, respected industry leader and built a compelling brand.
"The board would also like to thank Andre for his relentless support and passion during the entire journey from a daring idea to what we are today: a fully validated and market leading enterprise with proven viability. Looking forward, I wish Mark, Ian and Holger much success in the continued growth of the business.”
