Research and development

Lieve 

• Food technology leader for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)
• Sets vision and provides overall leadership for Cargill Food Technology (technical service, process and product development, applications and technical service) in the region. 
• At Cargill since 1992. Based in Vilvoorde, Belgium 

Why did you join Cargill? 

I liked very much the broadness of the company, the international atmosphere and the career opportunities. 

What kinds of problems do you help solve? 

I help to set the direction for Cargill Food Technology in the region and lead the implementation of our strategic plan. 

What is it like to work in R&D at Cargill? 

You’re surrounded by lots of skilled, experienced people — and our focus is on helping our customers get the solutions they need. There’s openness and candor — and we try to keep our organization flat — with few layers of management. We’re fortunate to work in nice facilities and have access to sophisticated equipment. 

What keeps you at Cargill? 

Looking back on the many varied positions I’ve held, the common thread is the opportunity to build bridges — connecting departments, functions and customers. Creating these intersections has really engaged me. My role now continues the theme. I have the opportunity to lead our efforts to build stronger connections within our technology organization, as well as with our business units and their customers. These bridges are important because they connect our technical expertise with customer needs — and enable us to deliver results. 

What might you tell someone interested in an opportunity in Cargill R&D? 

At Cargill, you can identify a career goal and start to work on it by developing yourself for the next step. Cargill has provided me many opportunities — and, importantly, has given me the belief that I can move beyond my comfort zone to new challenges.