Dr Heinz-Jürgen Bertram is handing over the CEO position at Symrise AG to Dr Jean-Yves Parisot. In its meeting end of February, the company’s Supervisory Board, appointed Dr Jean-Yves Parisot, currently Member of the Executive Committee and in charge of the segment Taste, Nutrition & Health, as new CEO effective March 31, 2024. The Supervisory Board also renewed the contract of Dr Jean-Yves Parisot for another four years until the end of 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 a Member of the Executive Committee and 15 as CEO.

Dr Jean-Yves Parisot joined Symrise in 2014 and became Member of the Executive Committee in 2016. He oversees the segment Taste, Nutrition & Health and will continue to do so on an interim basis until a successor for this role has been identified. Dr Jean-Yves Parisot has been President of the International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI) since 2023. Prior to his time at Symrise, he had global leadership roles at Pfizer, Rhone Poulenc/Rhodia, Danisco, Air Liquide and the Diana Group prior to its merger with Symrise. He studied veterinary medicine and holds a MBA degree from HEC Paris.

At its meeting on 1 December, the Supervisory Board of Symrise AG once again extended the contract of Chief Executive Officer Dr Heinz-Jürgen Bertram ahead of schedule. With his confirmation in office until the end of 2025, Symrise is preserving its customary continuity and long-term management approach. Dr Bertram will continue as CEO of Symrise AG for a further three years and will drive forward the profitable growth course of the Group.

“Dr Heinz-Jürgen Bertram has been leading Symrise AG confidently and successfully for more than ten years now. With his entrepreneurial vision, he has further diversified the product portfolio, tapped into high-growth markets and new customer groups, and most recently sovereignly steered the Group through the pandemic. Under his leadership, Symrise AG has developed into one of the 40 largest publicly listed companies in Germany. After 14 successful years in the MDAX, the Company was promoted to the DAX, Germany’s leading index, this year,” said Michael König, Chairman of the Supervisory Board. “This track record demonstrates once again that Dr Bertram enjoys a high level of trust on the capital market as well as among customers and employees. We are delighted to have won him over for another three years as CEO and to continue our successful and trusting cooperation in the upcoming years.”

By 2025 Symrise intends to drive forward its expansion in high-growth business areas as well as the further development of its own base of natural raw materials with targeted investments. The Company is targeting sales of € 5.5 to € 6 billion by 2025. Organic growth is expected to be between 5 and 7 %. With its favorable product mix and efficiency enhancements, Symrise aims to generate an EBITDA margin in the range of 20 to 23 %.

Dr Heinz-Jürgen Bertram (born in 1958), who has a doctorate in chemistry, has performed in various management functions at the Bayer Group, the Haarmann & Reimer Group and Symrise since 1985. Since 2003, he has held several senior positions with Symrise, and was appointed to the Executive Board in 2006. Since August 2009, he heads the Company’s business activities as CEO.