WFA: Europe

Kika Buhrmann, CEO of Nespresso Netherlands since April 2023, is an inspiring leader with diverse international experience in Spain, Switzerland, and the USA.   

Leading  Nespresso Netherlands, she fosters a culture of intentional collaboration and innovation, driving positive impact in the coffee industry and sustainability. She is fueled by the desire to create a better world for future generations. With over 20 years of expertise, she knows how to put the customer experience and employee experience at the core of her thinking, whilst being a strong advocate for diversity initiatives at Nespresso and beyond.  She’s on a mission to make every sip of coffee count!  

As the keynote speaker at WFA Europe and a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, Kika will provide an honest and inspiring look at the challenges an experienced leader in the coffee sector has faced throughout her career, the lessons learned, and the tools she has found and used along the way. Her reflections and actionable strategies will empower you to craft your own recipe for success. 

Kika is a Dutch and Brazilian citizen. She has 3 children and in her free time enjoys making jewelry as well as exploring the world through her children’s perspective.  

Her personal mantra is “Do something today that your future self will thank you for”. 

Thaís Souza is the Global Marketing Director for Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health, where she drives the development and implementation of global marketing capabilities within the company’s Strategic Marketing & Technology (SMT) organization. She collaborates with sales, technical, marketing, and R&D leaders worldwide to transform market, customer, and consumer insights into impactful strategies that deliver measurable results. 

With over 16 years of experience in brand building and marketing strategy, particularly in B2B markets, Thaís has successfully led large, multinational teams and delivered results at both regional and global levels. Her expertise spans strategy creation through execution, ensuring alignment with business objectives. 

Prior to joining Cargill, Thaís held various leadership positions at AkzoNobel, where she was pivotal in driving marketing excellence, implementing best practices, and providing strategic guidance. In her most recent role at AkzoNobel, she served as Corporate Director of Communications, overseeing the corporate brand’s reputation, internal communications, corporate partnerships, public affairs, and media relations. 

Originally from Brazil, Thaís holds an MBA in Business Management and Competitive Intelligence. Since 2018, she has been based in the Netherlands, bringing innovation and strategic leadership to her work. 

Eleonore currently leads procurement & supply chain at Pizza Hut UK & Europe, prior to which she advised numerous organisations in the food industries & beyond as a consultant. Her focus has been on delivering results that combine commercial excellence and sustainability improvement all along the food value chain. – demystifying the perception that sustainability is expensive. 

Eleonore is also a strong advocate of women’s leadership in the supply chain and is dedicated to empowering individuals to build impactful careers, shaping the future of a more resilient and sustainable global food system.  

With 21 years of professional experience, Seda Gumuspala is a seasoned expert in Strategic Procurement, Marketing, and Sales within multinational companies across diverse business areas in Istanbul, Milan, and the Netherlands. Known for an exceptional ability to lead cross-functional teams, negotiate contracts, develop long-term commodity strategies, and perform comprehensive cost analysis, Seda has made significant contributions in various prestigious roles. 

Currently, Seda works as the Global Procurement Director at Unilever, managing 1.8 billion € annual spend on Soft Commodities for the largest ice cream company in the world. Seda`s leadership extends to managing a global team of 25 people, developing comprehensive category risk management programs, and creating strategic visions for complex and dynamic environments. Seda is also leading the Joint Buying Program with other FMCG companies across all Unilever BGs. 

Prior to this, Seda was CPO at Coca-Cola Beverages in Istanbul, 5th biggest bother of Coca-Cola Company, managing direct and indirect procurement for 11 countries with a 3 billion € spend and leading a team of 100 people. Seda played a crucial role in developing and implementing group procurement strategies, ensuring sustainability, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to meet organizational goals. 

In addition to procurement, Seda also worked as Head of Sales for Global Key Accounts at ThyssenKrupp Stainless in Milan, Seda managed global sales activities and negotiations for key accounts in consumer goods. Seda`s strategic acumen and focus on profitability analysis and customer satisfaction drove significant business growth. 

Early in her career, Seda held significant roles at Erdemir, Arcelik/Beko, and Toyota Tsusho, in procurement, marketing, and supply chain management. 

Seda’s extensive experience and strategic mindset makes a valuable asset in any organization, consistently delivering exceptional results and driving sustainable growth. 

Digital Transformation and Business Leader.

Successfully introduced SaaS: launched software as a service with upselling of products. Created new business line and driving the animal industry Digital Transformation.

Successfully led Digital Transformation: introduction and full adoption of e-commerce platforms, CRM, pricing & quotation tool, data mgmt., analytics, AI, dynamic pricing, … a track record of change mgmt.

Global Sales and Marketing Leader – over 25 years of experience in several geographies with a track record of gaining market share, increasing profitability and successfully capturing new business opportunities by meeting customer needs. Strong leadership capabilities, bringing teams together with a shared vision to execution.

Our world will be completely changed by AI, Quantum Computing, Metaverse, Synthetic Biology and CRISPR-Cas in the next 5-10 years. Strong believer and adviser in the 4th Industrial Revolution: AI / Machine learning & Quantum computing specialist with an analytics translator track record. Metaverse / virtual B2B world creator.

As Head of HR and a member of the Management Board at Alltech Coppens, Katja Hermans oversees human resources operations across three key locations: the Head Office and Research Center in the Netherlands, the production facility in Germany, and the HR functions for Alltech Netherlands and Alltech Germany. In her leadership role, Katja plays a pivotal part in shaping the strategic direction and organizational culture of Alltech Coppens. 

From the outset of her career, Katja has been passionate about human resources. This enthusiasm has fueled her commitment to continuous professional development and has been a guiding force in her career. She has actively pursued opportunities to deepen her expertise in HR management, labor law, and leadership. 

Prior to her current position, Katja gained significant leadership experience as a Branch Manager. In this role, she oversaw branch operations, led staff recruitment efforts, and managed client relations, delivering strong business outcomes. 

Katja has further enhanced her professional credentials through various certifications and training, including qualifications as an economic mediator and psychological coach. Her passion for employment law has also led her to serve as an independent judge at the labor court in Germany. 

With her unwavering dedication to HR, strong leadership skills, and active participation as part of the management team, Katja is instrumental in driving the success of Alltech Coppens and contributing to Alltech’s broader mission of achieving excellence. 

Sunil Nayak is Zone President for Europe, region CEO of Continental Europe and the executive sponsor for Global Strategic Accounts at Sodexo.

Sunil’s passion for food began when he opened a food cart on the streets of Mumbai in 1989, and continues today at Sodexo – a world leader in delivering sustainable food service and valued experiences in over 50 countries.

Sunil joined Sodexo in 2009 as CEO Sodexo India. He went on to grow and transform the business in India and held global strategic roles including CEO Corporate Services Asia Pacific and in 2019 CEO Corporate Services worldwide. He has been a member of Sodexo’s group executive leadership team since 2019 and in November 2022, he was appointed Zone President for Europe with responsibility for the implementation of Sodexo’s strategic roadmap across the Zone and in January 2023, he was also appointed CEO of the Continental Europe region, leading 18 countries.

Sunil is an executive sponsor of diversity, equity & inclusion at Sodexo, providing direction and leadership to SoTogether – a global advisory board driving gender balance by advancing women at all levels of the organization. He is also a sponsor of SheLeads, a program aiming to accelerate the development and empowerment of female leaders across Sodexo, as well as a mentor for the program.

Externally, he is a member of the advisory boards of Women in Food and Agriculture (WFA) and Catalyst Europe.

Beyond his professional work, Sunil champions inclusion and founded Ra Foundation, an NGO that supports children’s education, a cause close to his heart. Sunil is Indian and speaks English and Hindi.

From a small village to the global stage, Abir Haddoud’s journey is a testament to resilience, ambition, and the power of strategic thinking. Honored as a top student by the Algerian President at just 16, she pursued her education in France, earning a spot in a prestigious global engineering school. By 21, she was contributing to a leading strategy consulting firm, and by 27, she became the youngest executive in a $2 billion company.

Today, Abir is an accomplished entrepreneur, having founded two successful companies, including an EdTech venture, while advising leaders across industries on strategy, transformation, and leadership.

At Women in Food and Agriculture, Abir will share her insights on navigating male-dominated spaces, authentic leadership, and building strategic alliances for career growth. Her approach emphasizes staying true to oneself while driving impactful results.

Abir’s story is one of empowerment and possibility, inviting others to embrace bold strategies and unlock their full potential.