In this exclusive interview, we speak with Erik Visser, CEO of Hamlet Protein since 2019, a global leader in soy-based nutritional solutions for young animals. With a career spanning multiple continents and industries, Erik shares insights into his professional journey, leadership philosophy, and vision for a more sustainable and resilient animal nutrition sector. His global perspective and passion for purposeful growth set the tone for a candid and thought-provoking conversation.
BACKGROUND AND JOURNEY
Q. Can you share a brief about yourself and an overview of your professional journey and how you ventured into your current business domain?
Since the start of my career, I have worked in large corporations as well as in mid-size companies. I have always looked at the challenges and opportunities of new roles, much more than being motivated by the size of the company or its turnover.
I love operating at the crossroads of strategy and operation. Crafting the road map for future growth and development, while at the same time being close to the markets we serve, through frequent contact with customers, distributors, and our local teams.
To do so effectively, I travel all over the world, as I strongly believe that personal interaction shapes professional relationships and builds long-lasting partnerships. You cannot run a company from an air-conditioned boardroom alone but need to invest time and effort to truly understand people, organizations and the underlying market drivers.
Q. Also, Please Share Your Personal Background As Well.
Even though I am a Dutch national, I only spent two years of my professional life working in the Netherlands. My career has taken me across the globe -living and working in vastly different cultures, climates, economies, and business environments.
This international journey has not just shaped my career; it has shaped me.
In today’s globalized market, success isn’t just about strategy or execution. It’s about perspective: The ability to listen, adapt to, and respect different ways of thinking.
Leading teams across continents taught me that there is no one-size-fits-all leadership style. What motivates a team in Guatemala is likely to be different from what drives results in France.
I started my career in chemical distribution and worked in different managerial roles in Latin America. When I returned to Europe, I took my first role in animal nutrition, as I was inspired by the need to feed a growing world population in a sustainable manner.
Since then, I have worked in leadership roles across multiple geographies and sectors within the animal nutrition and feed additives markets. In the past two decades, I have cultivated a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in this industry.
Currently, I serve as the CEO of Hamlet Protein, a leading global company specializing in soy-based protein solutions for young animal nutrition. Our products are designed to meet the specific needs of young animals like piglets, calves, and chicks, promoting healthy growth and reducing the need for antibiotics. With production facilities in Denmark and the U.S., we cater to customers worldwide, offering innovative solutions that not only support animal health but also address environmental sustainability.
Hamlet Protein’s mission revolves around creating high-quality, highly digestible feed solutions that contribute to healthier animals, efficient production, and reduced environmental impact. This aligns with my personal vision of balancing business growth with responsibility toward the planet and the communities we serve.
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Q. What do you consider your most significant achievements or milestones in your career?
I have managed to create business success in the companies I have led and turned around loss-making operations. But I consider the relationships I have built over the years as my most significant achievement.
Still today, I regularly speak to people I have worked with at different stages of my career. I am fortunate to have been able to support former colleagues in finding a next step in their professional journey. I have linked former business partners to create new ventures. I have supported teams in ownership changes. I have coached starting entrepreneurs on their way to success.
Leaving a legacy is not only about the profits generated, but also about building lasting relationships.
CHALLENGES AND LEARNINGS
Q. What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?
In business and in life, things sometimes go wrong. This is something that we must accept. If we don’t, we’ll never make decisions in a timely manner; instead, we’ll spend most of our time thinking about what might go wrong.
Especially in a business environment, we will never be 100% certain about anything. This means we must make decisions based on our best assessment of any situation. This isn’t always ideal, but it is the reality – and it is also a responsibility that comes with being a leader.
Personally, I would rather accept some wrong decisions than spend too much time deliberating instead of acting. The only caveat? That we learn from those mistakes, and use that knowledge to make better decisions in the future.
When zooming in on challenges in my career, a topic that people will recognize is dealing with market volatility. The current ongoing global trade tensions create ripple effects across industries, and the animal nutrition sector is not immune to the challenges. With new developments every day, industry professionals scramble to decide how to deal with the fallout of current trade wars and how a further escalation will impact costs, investments, and supply chains.
The disruption is already happening, and the consequences are being felt by producers, suppliers, and consumers alike.
As the landscape evolves, the key to success is adaptability. Companies need to prioritize innovation and supply chain diversification, while forging strong relationships with both local and international partners. Now more than ever, transparency and effective communication with stakeholders are crucial.
INNOVATION AND VISION
Q. Could you discuss your vision for the future of your business or the industry as a whole?
The animal nutrition industry will need to meet a growing demand for safe feed to produce safe food and do so in a sustainable manner. As a company we contribute to that.
Growth and sustainability are not trade-offs; both are necessary for meaningful change. With growth, companies can invest in sustainable practices that lead to a lower carbon footprint.
This is why investments in sustainability should not be viewed solely as costs, but rather as strategic business cases. Companies should measure the benefits and returns on these investments as they would any other financial decision.
Research has shown that companies with strong ESG agendas and a track record of sustainability can earn increased multiples in exit processes. Consumers also reward companies with genuine sustainability agendas. “Greenwashing” or superficial sustainability claims, on the other hand, are easily spotted – and can quickly lead to a loss of trust.
That is what we must remember when developing our own sustainability initiatives: meaning and authenticity is everything. It’s also another profound reason as to why growth and sustainability go hand in hand, with growth providing the resources and opportunities for strategic and meaningful sustainability initiatives. In doing so, companies can thrive financially while making a positive impact on the world.
Q. What are you looking forward to accomplishing most in 2025?
Providing the right nutrition in the first life stage determines the overall lifetime performance of the animal. With increasing pressure on the use of medication, and with more countries banning (or limiting) the use of antibiotic growth promoters, the focus on specialty ingredients for young animal nutrition will continue to grow this year and beyond.
It is in that area where Hamlet Protein has been able to create a global leadership position, and we will use that position to further increase our presence in key markets with a focus on swine, poultry, and ruminants.
Hamlet Protein already has strong market shares in North America, Europe, and Asia. This year, we are targeting to expand our footprint in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. That growing market share will not only come from our flagship product, HP300. We have different product options that we will position to address the needs of specific markets, species, and life stages.
Hamlet Protein will continue to invest in bringing the best solutions for early life nutrition to the market. That means investing in the best technical and commercial talent, driving efficiency at our plants, and working alongside our business partners to provide solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.
Closing Thoughts
Q. Is there anything else you’d like to share or any message you’d like to convey to the audience reading this feature about you?
As a business leader, I am competitive and ambitious. I don’t know how to give anything other than 100% to what I am doing or trying to accomplish. With this in mind, I understand how important it is to take care of the people who drive the success of our company.
I truly believe that if your people are happy, the results will follow. This means business isn’t always about the “hard numbers.” Alone, they’re just numbers. They don’t necessarily mean anything, because they cannot be achieved without people.
This should also affect how and whom you hire. When you look for new members for your team, you should, of course, seek expertise. But it is also beneficial to keep a close eye out for those individuals who enjoy being part of a team – and thrive on making things happen.
These types of people are open to your company’s values and behaviors. They are individuals who will take an extra step to help a colleague; in fact, these people see their coworkers as more than simply “colleagues” – they’re friends, even family. They go through the good and the bad together, while sharing a common goal: innovating and collaborating to drive the company toward further success.
Learn more about Erik Visser on LinkedIn and Hamlet Protein on their website.
Erik Visser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikvisser/
Hamlet Protein Website: https://www.hamletprotein.com/
