A major management move has been made by Lindt & Sprüngli, as it confirmed that group CEO  Adalbert Lechner will leave the company with immediate effect after three years in post, reports Neill Barston.

Notably, the company, which has brought back its former chief executive Dieter Weisskopf (pictured) on an interim basis, stated it required a ‘new operational leadership to return to consistent growth’ which comes in the wake of reduced earnings for the business in the past year.

As Confectionery Production previously reported, the Swiss-based business earlier this month cited consumer pushback on pricing of premium ranges that had led to poorer than expected sales in core territories including Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Lechner has now left the premium chocolate firm having served for more than three decades across the company, which offered thanks for his time leading the confectionery outfit during a period of notable headwinds.

In addition to its reduced sales in the past year, the business also attributed ‘unprecedented’ heatwave conditions across Europe this summer as having a negative impact on the broader chocolate industry.

The cut in its outlook earlier this month was the reportedly the second time this year this had happened, with its share value said to had dropped to its lowest value since 2021.

Search for a new CEO
According to the company, it has set in motion a search for a successor, with Dieter Weisskopf, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and former Group CEO (pictured main image), taking the helm temporarily. There will now be new management in its German and Austrian operations. 

Commenting on its decision,  Ernst Tanner, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors said: “The Board is convinced that this leadership change will drive future growth. 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.”

Dieter Weisskopf, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and interim CEO, remarked: “I know Lindt & Sprüngli, the market, and our people well, and all of it is close to my heart. 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.”

Ernst Tanner, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors concluded that present conditions would mean its former CEO would be making a notable return.

He 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. 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.

“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.”