Symrise Names New CEO
PARIS — There’s a changing of the guard at Symrise AG, as Heinz-Jürgen Bertram steps down as chief executive officer, after 15 years at the helm of the German fragrance, flavors and nutrition supplier.
Bertram will be succeeded by Jean-Yves Parisot, who is currently Symrise’s member of the executive committee in charge of the group’s taste, nutrition and health branch.
More from WWD
The company’s supervisory board has also renewed Parisot’s contract for another four years, through September 2028.
“Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram is retiring in the best mutual consent and agreement after 21 years of service at Symrise, of which 19 as member of the executive committee and 15 as CEO,” Symrise said in a statement.
“Heinz-Jürgen Bertram has shaped our company decisively,” said Michael Köng, chairman of the supervisory board of Symrise. “Thanks to his excellent work, Symrise today is a global industry leader and a well-respected member of the DAX-40 index.
“He has put the Symrise product portfolio on a broad, resilient footing,” Köng continued. “In addition to ensuring constant organic growth, he has sustainably strengthened the company through strategic acquisitions in important growth areas and has thus ideally positioned Symrise for the future. We are deeply grateful to Heinz-Jürgen Bertram for his achievements.”
Köng underlined that Parisot has worked in close partnership with Bertram to successfully transform the company into a leading player in taste and nutrition.
Parisot joined Symrise in 2014 and became a member of the company’s executive team two years later. He will remain in his position overseeing its taste, nutrition and health branch until a successor for that has been chosen. Parisot has also been president of the International Organization of the Flavor Industry since 2023.
Prior to joining Symrise, he held global leadership positions at Pfizer, Rhone Poulenc/Rhodia, Danisco, Air Liquide and the Diana Group before it was acquired by Symrise.
“Today Symrise is an industry leader, combining innovation capability, excellent quality and sustainability,” Bertram said. “It is our dedicated global team that is making all that possible, day by day. It has been a privilege to lead the global Symrise team through eventful times. Now is the right moment to pass on to Jean-Yves Parisot, so that he can shape the next chapter of our success story.”
Looking ahead, Parisot said: “Our entrepreneurial activities will continue to focus on setting the right strategic course at an early stage to ensure profitable growth.”
Best of WWD
