Royal EMT BV, has announced the appointment of Zico Zeeman as its new Managing Director, effective October 2026.
Representing the fifth generation of the Zeeman family, Zico takes over the daily management of the company from Gustaaf Zeeman, who will remain actively involved as Director.
The appointment marks an important milestone in the company’s history and reflects its commitment to continuity, innovation and long-term growth.
For Zico Zeeman, becoming Managing Director is much more than taking on a new position. It is the continuation of a journey that began when he was just young boy.
While still attending school, Zico started working at the family business during weekends and holidays. What began as a part-time job gradually developed into a career in which he gained experience across nearly every department of the company.
From supporting the engineering department to working as a field service technician on international installations, Zico has experienced the company’s operations from several different perspectives. His technical involvement provided him with valuable insight into the design, manufacturing, installation and maintenance of EMT equipment, while his work directly with customers gave him a practical understanding of the challenges faced by fertilizer producers worldwide.
This broad experience has given him a detailed understanding of how Royal EMT operates, from the first customer enquiry and engineering process to manufacturing, commissioning and after-sales support.
Unlike many executives who enter a company at management level, Zico has grown into his position from within the from sweeping the floor in the production hall on Saturdays to implementing improvement processes to maintaining international contact with customers building a strong connection with both the people and the products that have made EMT successful.
Throughout his career at EMT, Zico has played an important role in improving internal operations and preparing the company for the future.
In his previous positions, he was actively involved in implementing process improvements, optimizing internal workflows and further professionalizing the organization. These developments have helped strengthen the company’s operational efficiency while maintaining the flexibility and personal approach that characterize a family-owned business.
As Commercial Director, Zico took responsibility for the company’s commercial activities, further developing customer relationships, expanding international opportunities and strengthening EMT’s position within the global fertilizer industry.
His combination of practical technical knowledge, commercial experience and understanding of internal business processes has provided him with a strong foundation for his new responsibilities.
The appointment follows another significant milestone for the Zeeman family business.
In 2026, the company celebrated 100 years of registered family entrepreneurship and was awarded the prestigious Royal designation, a recognition of its long history, reputation and contribution to Dutch industry.
Zico was closely involved in the developments and preparations surrounding this achievement, making the Royal designation a particularly meaningful milestone in his career.
The company’s history can be traced back to 1913, when the first generation of the Zeeman family started operating a windmill to process grain for local farmers. Over the decades, the business developed from agricultural trading and animal feed production into an internationally recognized manufacturer of fertilizer handling equipment.
With Zico now taking the position of Managing Director, the fifth generation continues this tradition of entrepreneurship.
As part of the management transition, Gustaaf Zeeman will step back from the daily management of Royal EMT while continuing his involvement as Director.
His experience and extensive knowledge of the company and the international fertilizer industry will remain valuable as the next generation takes responsibility for the company’s future.
For Zico, the new role represents an opportunity to build further on the foundation established by previous generations, combining the company’s long-standing engineering expertise with a continued focus on innovation, professionalization and customer satisfaction.
With his background in engineering, field service, internal operations and international sales, he brings a broad understanding of the business to his new position.
The ambition remains to further strengthen Royal EMT’s international presence while continuing to develop reliable, efficient and high-quality equipment tailored to the needs of customers worldwide.
The appointment of Zico Zeeman as Managing Director represents both continuity and a new chapter for Royal EMT.
Having worked his way through different departments of the company since a young boy, he brings a combination of hands-on experience, technical understanding, commercial expertise and a strong connection to the family business.
As Royal EMT enters its next chapter, its focus remains firmly on delivering high-quality fertilizer blending, bagging and handling solutions, supported by the experience of five generations and a commitment to continuous improvement.
With Zico Zeeman leading the company, Royal EMT looks ahead to the future, building on more than a century of family entrepreneurship while continuing to serve the fertilizer industry worldwide.
