ISEAL Alliance

Rik Kutsch Lojenga, Executive Director of the Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT), has become the new ISEAL Board Chair, as FSC Executive Director Andre de Freitas’ term of three years is now complete. The formal handover took place in the December 2011 meeting and Andre was applauded for his long-time service. Andre will remain on the Executive Committee of the Board. 

Rik earned a Master's degree in business and environmental economics in the Netherlands. He worked with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for more than a decade, where he was involved in SME development and trade & biodiversity. In 2008 he became the Executive Director of the Geneva based Union for Ethical Biotrade. 

“I am honoured to serve as the Board Chair of the ISEAL Alliance,” says Rik. "ISEAL finds itself in a rapidly changing standard landscape. Its work on issues such as up-scaling, demonstrating impact and growing in emerging markets is of great importance. I look forward to collaborating with ISEAL staff, Board and Stakeholder Council on these topics over the next few years."