Symrise AG, a leading global supplier of flavors and fragrances, cosmetic and functional ingredients, has announced a planned leadership transition. The Supervisory Board has appointed Martin Huber (56) as the company's next Chief Financial Officer, effective April 1, 2027. He will succeed Olaf Klinger (61), who will step down from the Executive Board after an eleven-year tenure as CFO. In a separate decision, the Supervisory Board extended the Executive Board mandate of Walter Ribeiro (56), President Taste, Nutrition & Health, by four years until September 19, 2031. The announcement was made via NEWMEDIAWIRE.
Michael König, Chair of the Supervisory Board of Symrise AG, praised Klinger's leadership. "We are grateful to Olaf Klinger for his outstanding leadership and dedication to Symrise throughout his tenure, which will span more than eleven years by the time of his departure," König said. "His financial expertise, focus on value creation and commitment to profitable growth have contributed significantly to Symrise's successful development and strong position in the capital markets." König also welcomed Huber, stating, "His industry expertise, international experience and proven track record make him well positioned to support Symrise's next phase of durable growth and value creation."
Martin Huber brings more than 20 years of international finance and leadership experience acquired at Nestlé, Nespresso, and most recently Aryzta. At Aryzta, he played a key role in the company's transformation, improving profitability, cash flow, and return on capital. Huber will build on Symrise's financial foundations and support the continued execution of the ONE SYM transformation, disciplined capital allocation, and long-term profitable growth. "I am excited to join my Executive Board colleagues and teams around the world to shape the company's next chapter of growth and transformation," Huber said.
Olaf Klinger reflected on his tenure: "With ONE SYM, we have launched a long-term transformation that is now entering its next phase and will extend beyond the end of my current term. I believe this is the right moment to prepare the transition to the next generation of financial leadership." During his tenure, Symrise joined the DAX and maintained consistent dividend growth. Klinger will remain CFO until March 31, 2027, ensuring an orderly handover.
The extension of Walter Ribeiro's mandate ensures continuity in the Taste, Nutrition & Health segment. Ribeiro has been with Symrise for over 30 years and has served on the Executive Board since September 2024. His deep industry expertise and global experience have contributed significantly to the segment's development. "I would like to thank the Supervisory Board for its confidence," Ribeiro said. "I look forward to continuing to work with our teams around the world to further strengthen Taste, Nutrition & Health."
For investors and industry observers, the planned succession signals stability and a continued focus on value creation. Symrise, headquartered in Holzminden, Germany, reported sales of around EUR 4.9 billion in the 2025 financial year and operates more than 100 branches worldwide. The leadership changes are expected to support the company's long-term strategy and growth trajectory. More information about Symrise can be found at www.symrise.com. The company also maintains a presence on linkedin.com/company/Symrise and youtube.com/agsymrise. The original release is available at www.newmediawire.com.
