Interview with Dr. Niels Pörksen

Dr. Niels Pörksen grew up on an agricultural business in northern Germany, studied agricultural sciences, and earned his doctorate at the University of Kiel. After completing his doctorate in 1991, he began his career at BASF, where he progressed from a sales representative to global management positions and gained international experience in markets such as Japan, China, and Africa. In 2009, he moved to the sugar industry as a member of the executive board at Nordzucker AG and took on global leadership responsibility at the Australian crop protection company Nufarm Ltd. in 2014. 

In March 2020, he was appointed CEO of Südzucker AG. Under his leadership, the group is strategically realigning itself. With its “2026 PLUS” corporate strategy under the motto “Get the Power of Plants,” it is strengthening its focus on plant-based solutions, sustainable value creation, and bio-based technologies. He is driving forward the diversification of the company, among other things by expanding innovative business areas such as plant-based food ingredients, and promoting a modern, future-oriented corporate culture.