Lindt & Sprüngli CEO Adalbert Lechner has left his role at the Swiss chocolate group.
The Lindor maker said its board had determined the business “requires new operational leadership” to restore “consistent, strong growth and to capture opportunities” across its global markets.
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Ernst Tanner, the executive chairman of the board of directors, said: “The board is convinced that this leadership change will drive future growth.”
Dieter Weisskopf, vice-chairman of Lindt’s board and a former CEO of the company, had taken over as interim CEO with “immediate effect”.
Lechner is vacating the post after a 33-year career with the business.
The change comes after Lindt lowered its forecast for its annual organic sales last month, citing the impact of price increases and weaker volumes.
The company cut its growth outlook to flat-to-2%, down from an earlier 4-6% target.
Addressing that revision at the time, Lechner said: “We are confident that our adjusted pricing strategy, increased brand investments, innovations, and ongoing cost savings will materialise, and that demand will improve, contributing to a positive volume growth in 2027.”
In July, when reporting the first-half results, Lechner said Lindt expected “flat volumes” for the second half of the year.
Commenting on his interim remit, Weisskopf said: “My focus in the coming months will be to return our European business to growth and to build on the strong performance in North America as well as in Asia-Pacific markets such as Australia, China and Japan, where we continue to gain market share. We will invest significantly in our brands while improving our profitability.”
The Ghirardelli owner has started a search for a permanent successor to Lechner and expects to make an appointment in the second quarter of next year.
Tanner added: “The current search process will assess the best-qualified people to identify the CEO for the next growth phase, and we expect to appoint a new CEO in the second quarter of 2027.
“On behalf of the board of directors, we thank Adalbert Lechner for his important contribution to Lindt & Sprüngli over his 33-year career with the company.”
Lindt also confirmed changes to its divisional management in Germany and Austria.
Michal Spiller, the CEO of the company’s business in Germany, is leaving the business. He will be replaced by the chief executive of Lindt’s operations in Austria, Ali Kulein, subject to formal clearance from the local supervisory board.
Fabian Reinhardt, Lindt’s head of global sales, will take over from Kulein as CEO of the Austrian unit. Both regional appointments take effect this month.
Shares in Lindt were down 1.54% at SFr8,290 at 1400 CET. So far this year, the company’s share price is down almost 27%.
