Confectionery giant Haribo has handed marketing director Felix Theato more responsibility as 90-year-old co-owner Dr. Hans Riegel recovers from medical treatment.

Haribo said Dr. Riegel, who has run the company since 1946, was recovering from “successful” treatment. Reports in Germany say the son of the founder of Haribo is recovering from having a benign brain tumour removed.

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Theato joined Haribo last year from Ferrero. He will act as Dr. Riegel’s “representative”, a spokesperson said. “Dr. Riegel will return to the business. Yet Mr. Theato will stay in the management board and will represent/deputise Dr. Riegel (for the Haribo GmbH & Co. KG marketing, sales, PR and export) when he is not in the office et cetera in the future.”

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