Francisco is a Civil Engineer by training with a master’s degree in administration and more than 23 years’ experience in the cocoa sector at Casa Luker (Luker Chocolate) throughout the supply chain, including cocoa cultivation, agricultural and scientific research, production of chocolates and commercial and marketing management both in Colombia and abroad. He currently holds the position CEO at Luker Agrícola with his main responsibilities being the management of entrepreneurial cocoa and oil palm plantations and the company’s agricultural research, He also plays a major role in Luker´s efforts to integrate small producers so that they have adequate knowledge and support to achieve long-term sustainability.
In his career at Luker Chocolate, he has held the positions of VP of production and VP of International Business where he was responsible for designing and implementing the strategy for the company’s international expansion of fine flavor chocolates, managing to penetrate more than 40 countries in the gourmet chocolate market. He has also been VP of Cocoa Purchasing and Agricultural Development responsible for the relationship and support of cocoa producers in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.
From 2015 to 2019 Francisco was part of the Ad Hoc Panel on Fine or Flavor Cocoa Panel of Experts representing producing countries. The panel through their analysis and deliberations had the mission to recommend to the ICCO (International Cocoa Organization) the percentage of fine flavor cocoa each country in the Annex C is exporting to the world
