Lucas Bols Co. CEO Huub van Doorne is to step down from the helm of the Passoa liqueur maker in October.

Van Doorne, who has led Lucas Bols for 20 years, will leave the role on 1 October.

CFO Frank Cocx will become the business’ chief executive.

“On this memorable 450th anniversary of The Lucas Bols Company – a milestone achieved by very few companies only – I believe the time is right for me to step down and pass the baton to the next generation,” van Doorne said.

The Netherlands-based business, set up in 1575, was acquired by fellow Dutch distiller Nolet Group last year.

Family-owned Nolet had been a shareholder in Lucas Bols since the cocktail maker listed in 2015.

Van Doorne has been lined up to become chairman of Lucas Bols’ supervisory board.

Cocx, who has been the Lucas Bols CFO since 2020, said he was “truly honoured to take on the role of CEO at this unique moment in the company’s unparalleled history”.

Nolet Group, the maker of Ketel One vodka, struck a deal valuing Lucas Bols at €269.5m (then $284.1m).

Under the terms of the agreement, Lucas Bols was to be brought into Nolet Group as “a separate company”, a statement said at the time.

Together, van Doorne, Cocx and supervisory board chairman René Hooft Graafland owned 5.4% of Lucas Bols. They agreed to sell their holdings to Nolet Group.

Lucas Bols’ portfolio also includes the sparkling liqueur brand Nuvo and non-alcoholic spirits brand Fluère, both acquired two years ago.

Nolet Group has a 50-50 joint venture with Diageo through which the companies sell and market Ketel One vodka and the lower-alcohol Botanicals range. The venture has been in place since 2008.