Symrise AG, a leading global supplier of flavors and fragrances, cosmetic and functional ingredients, has announced a planned leadership transition. The Supervisory Board has appointed Martin Huber (56) as the company's next Chief Financial Officer, effective April 1, 2027. Huber will succeed Olaf Klinger (61), who will step down from the Executive Board after an eleven-year tenure as CFO. In addition, the Supervisory Board has extended the Executive Board mandate of Walter Ribeiro (56), President Taste, Nutrition & Health, by four years until September 19, 2031.
The CFO transition is part of a long-term succession plan. Michael König, Chair of the Supervisory Board, said, “We are grateful to Olaf Klinger for his outstanding leadership and dedication to Symrise throughout his tenure... His financial expertise, focus on value creation and commitment to profitable growth have contributed significantly to Symrise’s successful development and strong position in the capital markets.” Klinger will remain CFO until March 31, 2027, ensuring an orderly handover. He commented, “With ONE SYM, we have launched a long-term transformation that is now entering its next phase... I believe this is the right moment to prepare the transition to the next generation of financial leadership.”
Martin Huber brings more than 20 years of international finance and leadership experience at Nestlé, Nespresso and, most recently, Aryzta. At Aryzta, he was instrumental in the company's transformation and contributed to improving profitability, cash flow and return on capital. “Symrise combines a strong culture of innovation with attractive growth markets and a clear long-term strategy. I am excited to join my Executive Board colleagues and teams around the world to shape the company's next chapter of growth and transformation,” Huber said. He will focus on disciplined capital allocation and long-term profitable growth.
Walter Ribeiro's mandate extension ensures continuity in the Taste, Nutrition & Health segment, which he has led as President since September 2024. Ribeiro has been with Symrise for more than 30 years and has held various international leadership positions. “I would like to thank the Supervisory Board for its confidence. I look forward to continuing to work with our teams around the world to further strengthen Taste, Nutrition & Health, contribute to the successful development of Symrise as a whole, and create sustainable value for our customers, shareholders and all stakeholders,” Ribeiro said.
Symrise, headquartered in Holzminden, Germany, reported sales of around EUR 4.9 billion in the 2025 financial year and operates more than 100 branches worldwide. The leadership changes matter for investors and industry observers because they signal stability as the company executes its ONE SYM transformation. Klinger's tenure saw Symrise join the DAX and maintain consistent dividend growth, and Huber's experience in business transformation will be key to sustaining that momentum. More information is available at www.symrise.com, and the original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com. The company also engages with stakeholders via linkedin.com/company/Symrise and shares updates on instagram.com/symriseag.
