Blaise Kengne leads Barry Callebaut Cameroon
Kengne returns to Cameroon after leading Nigerian operations to head SIC Cacaos and Barry Callebaut Cameroon.
Blaise Kengne has been appointed chief executive officer of SIC Cacaos and Barry Callebaut Cameroon. Kengne returns to the country after leading Barry Callebaut Nigeria since October 2023.
Kengne brings over 18 years of experience, including previous roles at SIC Cacaos in Douala. His appointment occurs as SIC Cacaos received 40,012 tonnes of cocoa beans in the 2025–2026 season, a 14% decrease from the prior year.
Overall, Cameroon's industrial processors handled 95,946 tonnes of cocoa beans, down 13% from the previous season. SIC Cacaos, despite lower bean intake, remained the country's largest producer of processed cocoa products, making 29,245 tonnes.
Why it mattersBlaise Kengne's appointment affects Cameroon's cocoa processing sector, which saw a 13% decrease in handled cocoa beans.