Lindt + Sprüngli: Changes in Group Management

Kilchberg / CH. (ls) Lindt + Sprüngli Group announces the future structure of the Group Management. Ernst Tanner is handing over his function as CEO to the long-standing Group Chief Financial Officer, Dr Dieter Weisskopf and will continue to play an active role as Executive Chairman. The Group Management will be expanded by experienced executives from within the Group. By handing over responsibility to a younger generation of managers with strong track records, the Lindt + Sprüngli Group guarantees continuity playing an important role for the company.

Ernst Tanner hands over the mandate as CEO on October 01, 2016 and will concentrate in his role as Executive Chairman on the long-term strategy of the Group, thus the Group continues to benefit from his many years of experience.

The Group’s new CEO will be Dr Dieter Weisskopf, the Group’s long-standing CFO. He joined the Lindt + Sprüngli Group in 1995 as Head of Finance, HR, Legal and Purchasing, and since 2004 he has also been responsible for manufacturing and sustainability. He has over 22 years’ experience as a member of Group Management.

New structure of Group Management as of January 2017

Three new members will join the Group Management:

• Martin Hug, CFO at Ghirardelli, will become Group Chief Financial Officer. He started at Lindt + Sprüngli in 2004 as Senior Corporate Controller. Only a short time later he was promoted to CFO at Lindt + Sprüngli UK. Since 2011, he holds the position as CFO at Ghirardelli.
• Alain Germiquet, currently CEO at Lindt + Sprüngli France, will assume responsibility for several countries and International Sales. He is with Lindt + Sprüngli since 2007. First, as CEO of Lindt + Sprüngli UK and since 2009 as CEO at Lindt + Sprüngli France.
• Guido Steiner will continue to be in charge of Group Operations. He began his career at Lindt + Sprüngli back in 1992 as Group Production Planning Manager. From 1998 until 2003 he was Vice President Operations at the Lindt + Sprüngli subsidiary in Stratham, USA. Since 2003, he is back at the Headquarters as Vice President Operations.

Complete Group Management structure:

• Dr Dieter Weisskopf, Group CEO
• Andreas Pfluger, President+ CEO Russell Stover, Country Responsibility
• Rolf Fallegger, International Marketing, Global Retail, Country Responsibility
• Kamillo Kitzmantel, CEO Switzerland, Country Responsibility
• Dr Adalbert Lechner, CEO Germany, Country Responsibility
• Alain Germiquet, International Sales, Country Responsibility
• Martin Hug, Group CFO
• Guido Steiner, International Operations

All Group Management members will report directly to the CEO.

Uwe Sommer, Head of International Marketing/Sales and Global Retail as well as responsible for a number of countries, will resign from Group Management by the end of April 2017 taking up early retirement. His responsibilities will be handed over to Rolf Fallegger and Alain Germiquet.

The Board of Directors would like to congratulate the new members on their appointment and wishes the entire Group Management continued success. Moreover, the Board would like to thank Uwe Sommer for his valuable contribution to the company’s growth and success over the past 23 years.

This major transition at the top of the company is consistent with the long-term strategy of the Group. By transferring responsibility to a younger generation of managers, Lindt + Sprüngli is setting the course for a successful future while at the same time ensuring the continuity being important for the Group as a whole.