Philip von dem Bussche takes over as Chairman of Krone Advisory Board

Spelle, 26/02/2015: At the most recent meeting of the Advisory Board held in February of this year, Philip Freiherr von dem Bussche became its newest member. The Business Administration graduate and agricultural entrepreneur simultaneously took over as chair from Dr Bernard Krone (75) who stays on as an honorary member.

“We are very pleased to have recruited such an outstanding expert on the industry in Philip von dem Bussche whose presence will be a great asset to the Krone Advisory Board,” said Bernard Krone who leaves office at his own request. “As a qualified farmer and businessman, von dem Bussche not only speaks the language of our customers but also brings on board excellent product knowledge and customer proximity. These are the factors that distinguish a successful business, because a company must not only have excellent product quality and great innovative strength but also have its ear to the ground and engage in continuous dialogue with customers. This is one of the major pillars of Krone’s success.”

Philip von dem Bussche (65) can draw on many years of farming experience. On leaving school, he first completed compulsory military service before going on to agricultural college. After obtaining a degree in Business Administration from the University of Cologne in 1975, he returned to the Ippenburg estate which has been in the family since the 14th century and passed to the 22nd generation in 2013. He continues to manage the farming operation there to this date. In 1990, von dem Bussche and a business partner set up another agricultural enterprise in Krostitz (Saxony). He has long played an active role on the various committees of the DLG Deutsche Landwirtschaftsgesellschaft, holding the office of president between 1997 and 2005. Since October of that year, von dem Bussche has been a member of the board at KWS Saat AG, Germany’s largest plant breeding company, acting as its spokesman from 2008 until he retired in late 2014. He is a voting member on several other advisory and supervisory boards.

The Krone Advisory Board
In 2001, the Krone Group set up an advisory board for its holding company made up of one family member (Dr Bernard Krone) and four persons who have successfully led or continue to lead industrial companies in their own right but are not related to the family. It is a matter of principle that the non-family board members have no business, personal or financial ties to the Krone Group. The duties of the Advisory Board include advising on future strategy for the Krone Group and injecting external ideas to enhance objectivity. Current board members along with Dr Bernard Krone are Bernard ten Doeschate, Dr Wilhelm-Friedrich Holtgrave and Bernd Meerpohl.