Starch Europe Welcomes Nelli Hajdu as New Managing Director

Brussels, 13 February 2025 – Starch Europe is pleased to announce that Nelli Hajdu has officially joined this week as its new Managing Director. With adistinguished career so far in agricultural and agri-food trade, Nelli brings a wealth of experience in policy advocacy, sustainability, and global market engagement. Before joining Starch Europe, Nelli served as Secretary General of European Liaison Committee for Agricultural and Agri-Food Trade (CELCAA) , where she strategically positioned agricultural trade within the context of food security and sustainability. She has also held leadership roles at SHAFFE, Freshfel Europe, and co-founded NAERO Consulting, advising stakeholders on trade and public affairs. Her extensive experience working with European institutions, international organizations such as the WTO and FAO, and industry partners makes her particularly well-suited to lead Starch Europe into its next chapter.

Christophe Lescroart, President of Starch Europe, expressed his enthusiasm for Nelli’s appointment:

"With an impressive experience in fostering collaboration, advocating for the interests of the agri-food sector and connecting industry with its global partners, Nelli brings key assets to address the challenges of our starch sector. Her expertise will be put to good use in strengthening the sector’s central role in the EU bioeconomy with opportunities across food, feed and industrial markets, as well as in building a solid EU policy framework to increase the sector’s resilience and competitiveness. With the Executive Committee, I am delighted to welcome Nelli to lead the team in the next stage of Starch Europe’s journey.”

Nelli Hajdu will work closely with the Executive Committee and members of Starch Europe to drive the association’s strategic vision and advocate for the starch industry’s priorities, as well as to reinforce its position as a key contributor to Europe’s food and industrial sectors.

For media inquiries:
Andreas Delvaux – Head of Advocacy & Communications
andreas.delvaux@starch.eu
Tel:+32 494 41 83 99