Lindt & Sprüngli: Extended Group Management to strengthen the executive committee

With the creation of an 'Extended Group Management' Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG is strengthening the Group's organizational structure. Four experienced personalities with many years of international management expertise within the Group of companies are being appointed for the newly created 'Extended Group Management.' Since a new Group Management, headed by Group CEO Ernst Tanner, took over responsibility for the Lindt & Sprüngli business back in 1993, Group sales have more than tripled. In the intervening period, the organization has pursued its dynamic geographical expansion with the creation of its own subsidiary companies, and with three external acquisitions in Austria (Hofbauer), Italy (Caffarel) and the USA (Ghirardelli Chocolate Company). Access to new markets has been gained on an ongoing basis, while existing key markets have been further expanded.

Today, the LINDT brand is marketed by 17 wholly owned subsidiary companies, a number of Lindt & Sprüngli representations and a network of independent long-standing distributors in 100 countries worldwide. At present, LINDT is the only global premium chocolate brand and the world leader in this segment. Recent years have seen far-reaching changes in the global economic environment. This is reflected in particular in the importance of new sales markets. At the same time there have been permanent changes in consumer behavior, especially in the dynamic newly emerging countries with great potential, for example in Eastern Europe, Asia and South America. To respond to the resulting challenges for Lindt & Sprüngli as an international group of companies, the management structure is now being strengthened at Group level. As of 1st May 2011, the existing Group Management will be supported by a team of four experienced executives; they are to take on strategic responsibilities as members of the newly created 'Extended Group Management.' This new organizational structure will broaden the management expertise available within the group of companies, and pave the way for successful continuation of geographical expansion in future, accompanied by sustainable and profitable growth on all fronts.

The four new members of the 'Extended Group Management' - Rolf Fallegger, Kamillo Kitzmantel, Adalbert Lechner and Andreas Pfluger - have acquired many years of international management expertise within the group of companies as chief executives of Lindt & Sprüngli subsidiaries both, in Switzerland and abroad. Their practical experience has familiarized them with the international chocolate markets and future challenges, and their valuable know-how will make an important contribution to the Group Management and vigorously support its activities. This reorganization of the top management and the accompanying strengthening of the corporate structure is an important and future-oriented step. Its purpose is to adapt the group-wide organization to the challenges of the future and of further geographical expansion, especially in the emerging countries.

Rolf Fallegger joined the Group as Marketing Director of Lindt & Sprüngli Switzerland in 1997. His international career within the group of companies began with his appointment as CEO of the UK subsidiary company in the year 2000. When he took over the management responsibility, he laid the foundation for the accelerated growth dynamic of the LINDT brand on the biggest chocolate market in Europe. Four and a half years later he was appointed CEO of the French subsidiary company in Paris, with the affiliated production facility in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, which he successfully managed for four years. Since September 2009, Mr Fallegger holds country responsibility for France, the UK, Russia and Poland.

Kamillo Kitzmantel worked for a bit more than one year as Head of Marketing and Sales of Lindt & Sprüngli in Germany. Since 1995 and until now, he has been CEO of the Swiss subsidiary company. Switzerland is the Lindt & Sprüngli Group's biggest and most important production site for cocoa mass, and supplies LINDT finished products to all our export markets, in particular to the dynamic emerging countries which have great potential for the future. Lindt & Sprüngli operates two production sites in Kilchberg and Olten, together with an international warehousing and distribution center in Altendorf. Mr Kitzmantel temporarily also took over management of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company in S. Leandro (CA, USA) and country responsibility for the Italian market. As a member of the new 'Extended Group Management,' over and above his tasks as CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli Switzerland, Mr Kitzmantel will be responsible for building up and operating the planned Competence Center for Chocolate, which is to be established over the next three to five years in Kilchberg.

Adalbert Lechner began his career at Lindt & Sprüngli in 1993, as CEO of the Austrian subsidiary company with a production facility in Gloggnitz. In 1997, he took over the chief executive management of Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli GmbH in Aachen. The German subsidiary company, with its affiliated production facility, represents not only the most important European market within the Lindt & Sprüngli Group but is also the company which makes the biggest sales contribution. Under his management, the German subsidiary's sales have doubled. Since 2001, Mr Lechner also has country responsibility for Austria.

Andreas Pfluger started his career at Lindt & Sprüngli in 1994 as Marketing Director of Lindt & Sprüngli Switzerland. Three years later he took responsibility as CEO for the newly founded subsidiary company in Australia, where he was responsible for successful expansion onto this new market. In 2001 he was appointed CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli France. Since 2005 he has been CEO of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company in California (USA) with accompanying responsibility for the entire North American market. In his new position as a member of the 'Extended Group Management,' Mr Pfluger, over and above his existing country responsibility for North America, will also take over the country responsibility for Italy and Australia. Moreover, he will be in charge for the Lindt & Sprüngli representative office in Hong Kong.

www.lindt.com