Lindt begins search for new CEO

KILCHBERG, SWITZERLAND — Adalbert Lechner, group chief executive officer of global chocolate maker Lindt & Sprüngli, is leaving the company.

In announcing Lechner’s departure, Kilchberg-based Lindt said Oct. 19 that its board of directors has begun a search for a successor and named Dieter Weisskopf, board vice chairman and former group CEO, as the interim group chief executive, effective immediately. Lechner had succeeded Weisskopf as group CEO in 2022.

“The board is convinced that this leadership change will drive future growth,” said Ernst Tanner, executive chairman of the board. “Our brands and market positions are strong, and our focus continues to be on delivering exceptional products and experiences for our consumers and on profitable growth for our shareholders.

“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. We are very pleased that Dieter Weisskopf, who successfully led Lindt & Sprüngli as CEO until 2022 and has served on the board since then, has agreed to lead the company as interim CEO in addition to his responsibility as vice chairman until a new CEO is appointed.”

Lechner was group CEO for four years. He joined the Lindt & Sprüngli Group in 1993 as CEO of its Austrian subsidiary and then in 1997 was appointed as CEO of the German subsidiary. He was a member of extended group management from 2011 to 2016 and became a member of group management in 2017. Lechner was named group CEO in March 2022 and took the reins that October upon the retirement of Weisskopf from the post, in which he served for six years. Weisskopf has been vice chairman since October 2022.

“I know Lindt & Sprüngli, the market and our people well, and all of it is close to my heart,” 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. My task is to hand over to the next CEO a company with renewed momentum.”

Tanner said, “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. He has helped shape the group’s growth trajectory over many years. We are grateful to him for his leadership and achievements, and we wish him all the best for the future.”

Lindt also announced leadership changes in Germany and Austria. The chocolate maker said Michal Spiller, CEO for Germany, is leaving the company after 23 years of service and will be succeeded by Ali Kulein, currently CEO for Austria, pending formal approval by the local supervisory board. Taking over from Kulein as Austria CEO will be Fabian Reinhardt, head of global sales. Lindt said both changes will take effect on Oct. 26.