Who we are
We started as a small group of innovators in 2003, tasked with developing a rigorous certification system for Fairtrade International. Today, we’ve grown into a team of over 150 enthusiastic experts in fair global trade, based in 7 offices on 4 continents, and over 120 highly qualified auditors, carefully selected and trained by FLOCERT to serve our customers around the world.
The full team
Our leaders
Dr. Thorsten Niklas combines a background in chemistry with expertise in strategy, marketing, and sales. Thorsten began his career as a strategy consultant at Bayer AG before taking on leadership roles in the chemical and TIC (testing, inspection and certification) industries. Before joining FLOCERT, the native German held key leadership roles at Bayer AG, Underwriters Laboratories, and TÜV Rheinland, where he drove business growth and spearheaded market expansion in Europe and Latin America.
The Leadership Team sets the tone for the rest of our team, demonstrating initiative, showing mutual respect, and taking ownership of what they do: Natalie McLachlan (Chief People and Governance Officer), Dr. Thorsten Niklas (Chief Executive Officer) and Bronwyn Page-Shipp (Chief Regional Officer).
We are proud to think globally but act locally. To make sure we can meet your specific needs, our Regional Managers oversee FLOCERT’s offices. Tania Kaimowitz Rodríguez mangages our Costa Rica office, Lokesh M S manages our office in India, Conny Engel is our Regional Manager Europe and Bronwyn Page-Shipp manages the South Africa office (from left to right). Drawing on regional expertise and strong customer relationships, they help maintain the high standards and tailored approach that define our work across different markets.
Our Management Team is made up of dedicated, focused, and experienced professionals who work together with our employees worldwide to advance our shared vision of fair and sustainable global trade. With deep expertise and a strong commitment to integrity, they guide our organisation toward continuous growth, innovation, and positive impact.
Our Supervisory Board
Chair of the Supervisory Board
Dr Beate Degen is an accomplished non-executive director with extensive experience spanning strategy and innovation, sustainability, artificial intelligence and digitalisation, and risk management. She brings diverse expertise across several sectors, including agriculture, commodities, life sciences, deep tech and financial services. Prior to building her portfolio of board roles, Dr Degen held senior leadership positions at leading organisations such as Bayer AG and EY, as well as a US-based technology start-up.
Vice Chair of the Supervisory Board
Following his retirement from an executive career, Detlev Grimmelt remains committed to sustainable and ethical trade and has been working as a freelance consultant for the past two years, supporting companies in sustainable agricultural supply chains and climate services. Prior to this, he spent 13 years at Fairtrade Germany, serving on its Executive Board with responsibility for commercial operations, including licensing, supply chain management, and marketing. Detlev brings extensive international business experience from the retail, brand, and FMCG sectors, as well as strong knowledge of the international Fairtrade system and its members.
Supervisory Board member
Petrus Datuk Gimbad has expertise in governance, audit, risk, and strategy. He is a retired Partner of Ernst & Young and has extensive advisory and board experience across government, not-for-profit, and private sector organisations, including listed entities. Petrus is an accountant with qualifications in Business, Systems Thinking, Scenario Thinking, Sustainability, Development Studies, and Quality Assurance.
Supervisory Board member
Dr. Nyagoy Nyong'o is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Fairtrade Foundation (UK). She is a former Global CEO of Fairtrade International and Executive Director of Fairtrade Africa, with a lifelong commitment to advancing trade justice and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers and workers. She studied Forestry at the University of Nairobi and Iowa State University, specialising in Forest Tree Breeding and Genetics. She is the first Kenyan woman to earn a PhD in Forestry and is also a Rockefeller Fellow. Dr. Nyong'o is the Founder and President of the Twiga Girls' Foundation, where she champions the empowerment of vulnerable girls through mentorship and access to quality education. She enjoys hiking, reading, and cooking, and is married with three children.
Supervisory Board member
Prof. Dr. habil. Lisa Fröhlich is the founder of the ISPIRA Think Tank for Sustainable Supply Chains. She is a Full Professor of Sustainable Procurement and Supply Chain Management and previously served as President of a successful German business school. With more than 20 years of experience in sustainable procurement and supply chain management, she combines academic expertise with a strong understanding of organisational transformation and practice. An internationally recognised expert, she chairs the PRME DACH Chapter and specialises in sustainable procurement, supply chains, circular business models, and the integration of sustainability into procurement.
Our team
The FLOCERT team celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023
FLOCERT and Fairtrade International teams taking part in the annual carnival parade in Bonn, dressed in Fairtrade banana costumes
FLOCERT´s Operations team in the Americas
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