Sormac has appointed Tys van Elk as its new Managing Director, succeeding owner and long-standing Managing Director Bert Haffmans. Van Elk joined Sormac on 1 October 2026 and will formally take over the position on 31 December 2026.
The coming months will focus on ensuring a smooth transition and allowing Van Elk to get to know Sormac’s employees, customers, partners and business operations.
More than two decades of leadership
Bert Haffmans has led Sormac for more than 23 years, a period during which the company has developed into a leading international manufacturer of vegetable processing equipment, achieving steady and sustainable growth.
Following his departure from the Managing Director position, Haffmans will remain involved with Sormac as an advisor and shareholder.
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“I look forward to this next chapter with great confidence; Tys van Elk’s technical background, strategic expertise and entrepreneurial approach will further strengthen Sormac’s solid market position and future as a successful family business,” says Haffmans.
International experience
Van Elk brings extensive international leadership experience in strategy, transformation, operational improvement and business development. A mechanical engineer with an MBA from London Business School, he has held senior management and CEO positions at companies including Océ/Canon and VDL.
His appointment marks the next stage in Sormac’s development as an international manufacturer of equipment for vegetable processing, while maintaining its position as a family-owned business.
