Barry Callebaut CEO Peter Feld to step down immediately, with former Unilever boss incoming

Global chocolate and cocoa business Barry Callebaut has revealed its CEO Peter Feld is set to leave the company this month, with former Unilever boss, Hein Schumacher, taking up the role with immediate effect, reports Neill Barston.

The move follows a period of major turbulence for the firm and wider industry, amid high cocoa prices peaking at the start of last year impacting the business, affecting its shares as its sales continued to be hit by weakened consumer demand with many economies facing uncertain conditions.

Moreover, the decision regarding its leadership comes as its first quarter results are released, revealing global cocoa sales volumes declined by 22%, which it asserted reflected demand. Group sales were also down by 9.9% for the period, to 509, 401 tonnes. Despite this, revenues reported an upturn of 8.9% to CHF 3.69 billion for the first quarter.

Speaking on his departure, Peter Feld comented: “Over the last nearly three years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented people in the industry and to build the foundation for future growth. As the Board and I discussed, with most initiatives of BC Next Level already implemented, it is a good time to pass the baton to Hein. I do this with pride and gratitude to all who contributed. Barry Callebaut’s future is in good hands with Hein, and I wish Hein all the best in his new role.”

As previously reported, senior sources close to the business asserted that the company is presently considering whether to split is cocoa and chocolate operations, which made it the combined largest B2B enterprise serving major chocolate manufacturers including Nestle, Hershey, Unilever, and Burton’s, which has given the company a major international profile. The matter has yet to be formally commented on by the business.

Incoming CEO appointed immediately
The company confirmed the decision of the Board of Directors on its new appointment as CEO would take effect on January 26, with Peter Feld set to leave to pursue other opportunities, remaining until then in order to deliver a transition of its Next Level, digital transformation programme under incoming leader, Hein Schumacher, pictured below.

Patrick De Maeseneire, Chairman of Barry Callebaut Group, commented: “The Board is delighted to welcome Hein Schumacher as Barry Callebaut’s next CEO after an extensive global search process and to embark on a new chapter of growth, value creation and industry leadership.

“Hein is a seasoned and decisive leader with a unique blend of expertise in Food, B2C/B2B and ingredients, as well as a proven track record in creating significant shareholder value from two CEO positions with Unilever and Royal FrieslandCampina. He is the right leader at this stage to chart Barry Callebaut’s next phase of increased customer focus, winning culture and financial strength, based on our fully integrated cocoa and chocolate business model.”

Patrick De Maeseneire added that Peter Feld had made carried out a mandate of making the business into a ‘simpler, leaner and more agile organisation’ amid some major challenges.

He concluded: “Next to championing our transformation program, BC Next Level, Peter has navigated our company through the perfect storm, with unprecedented cocoa bean prices, market turbulence and a challenging geopolitical situation. With the upcoming completion of BC Next Level, the Board and Peter decided that now is the right time for a CEO transition. On behalf of the entire Board, we thank Peter for his immense work and leadership and wish him all the best for the future.”

As Barry the company explained, Dutch-born Hein Schumacher, 54, has gained more than 25 years of food industry experience.

From 2023-2025, he served as CEO of Unilever, where he implemented a comprehensive growth plan that allowed the company to sharpen its focus on core brands with higher added value and achieve significant shareholder value growth.

Prior to Unilever, Hein Schumacher held key leadership positions at Royal FrieslandCampina, one of the world’s largest dairy cooperatives with 50% of their revenues in B2B, where he served as both CEO (2017-2023) and CFO (2015-2017). In his role as CEO, he led Royal FrieslandCampina during times of very volatile commodity prices as well as through COVID and strengthened the company through a major restructuring initiative which resulted in a more focused business and a significant revenue increase.

In his early career, he also served with Heinz, having begun his career with Unilever in 1996 as a finance manager.

Commenting on his appointment, Hein Schumacher said: “I am honoured to serve as CEO of Barry Callebaut. Following a period of unprecedented market turbulence, Barry Callebaut is at an exciting juncture. While the business continues to navigate market and volume pressures, we have a clear opportunity to return to growth, to strengthen our culture and to deliver a step-up in our business performance. I look forward to working with the Barry Callebaut team to delight our customers, strengthen the balance sheet and deliver sustainable long-term value for all our stakeholders.”