Ethex founder makes Divine move

Divine Chocolate, the leading Fairtrade company co-owned by cocoa farmers, has appointed Jamie Hartzell as chair of the company board taking effect from last month. Social entrepreneur Jamie Hartzell brings over 25 years experience of starting and building new businesses to the table. He founded and ran the Ethical Property Company and more recently the positive investment marketplace Ethex.

Jamie Hartzell is also chair of the Palestinian fair trade food importer Zaytoun, and investor in a wide range of social businesses. Previously he produced television documentaries on international development issues.

Jamie Hartzell set up Ethex in 2013. It operates as a not-for-profit organisation creating a marketplace for investment in businesses that pursue a social or environmental mission while offering a financial return.

In 1998 he founded The Ethical Property Company which raises share capital to purchase properties to develop as serviced office and retail spaces for charities and campaign groups. Having built a £20 million property portfolio of 18 centres across the UK, he went on to replicate the model in Belgium, Netherlands and France.

Jamie Hartzell will be replacing Patrick Fleming who has been chair of the Divine board for three years after being on its board for five years.

Divine Chocolate was established in 1998 after the members of the Kuapa Kokoo farmers’ co-operative voted at their AGM to set up their own chocolate company.

The company is 45% owned by Kuapa Kokoo, 43% by Fairtrade NGO Twin Trading, and 12% by international development finance institute Oikocredit.