Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG
DGAP-Adhoc: Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG: Strengthening of Management Team on Group Level
Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG / Key word(s): Change of Personnel 22.10.2013 07:20 Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MEDIA RELEASE Strengthening of Management Team on Group Level Kilchberg, 22 October 2013 - Lindt & Sprüngli Group strengthens top level management with immediate effect. Andreas Pfluger, former member of the Extended Group Management, is appointed as a member of the Group Management. At the same time, Thomas Linemayr is promoted to the Extended Group Management. Consequently, the Group of companies has a broader and stronger management basis in view of the expanding internationalization of the business. Andreas Pfluger started his career at Lindt & Sprüngli in 1994 as marketing director of Lindt & Sprüngli Switzerland. Three years later, he took over as CEO for the newly founded subsidiary in Australia, where he was in charge of the successful expansion in this new market. In 2001, he was appointed CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli France and in 2005 moved on to become CEO of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company in California. In 2011, he was appointed to the newly established Extended Group Management and in this function he took over responsibility at Group level for the entire North American market as well as for Italy, Australia and China. In his new role as member of the Group Management, Andreas Pfluger will continue with his aforementioned responsibilities. At the same time, Thomas Linemayr is appointed to the Extended Group Management. The career of Thomas Linemayr in the Lindt & Sprüngli Group began in 1995 as marketing and sales director at the German subsidiary in Aachen. In 1999, he became CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli USA in Stratham, NH, where he made a significant contribution in building up the LINDT brand in the world's biggest chocolate market. In the course of the very successful development of this market, the Stratham production site was repeatedly expanded to match the continuously rising demand for LINDT products. While Thomas Linemayr will continue to fulfill his position as CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli USA, he will from now on also assume strategic responsibility on top management level as a member of the Extended Group Management. The enlargement of the Group Management and the resulting strengthening of the management structure is an important and future oriented step in view of the adaptation of the Group wide organization to the challenges of the future and the ongoing geographic expansion. About Lindt & Sprüngli: Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG is the worldwide leader in the premium chocolate segment and was founded more than 165 years ago in Zurich. Lindt & Sprüngli quality chocolate is manufactured in eight own production facilities in Europe and the US and is sold by 20 own subsidiaries as well as a widespread network of independent distributors around the world. The Lindt & Sprüngli Group employs more than 8000 people and achieved sales of 2.67 billion Swiss francs in 2012. Contact Investor Relations Contact Media Relations Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG Dieter Weisskopf, CFO Sylvia Kälin, Corp. Communications Phone: +41 44 716 25 37 Phone: +41 44 716 24 56 Investors@lindt.com Mediarelations-in@lindt.com 22.10.2013 News transmitted by EQS Schweiz AG. The issuer is responsible for the contents of the release. EquityStory publishes regulatory releases, media releases on the capital market and press releases. The EquityStory Group distributes authentic and real-time financial news for over 1'300 listed companies. The Swiss news archive can be found at www.equitystory.ch/news --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG Seestrasse 204 8802 Kilchberg Switzerland Phone: + 41 44 716 25 37 Fax: + 41 44 716 26 60 E-mail: zdrozd@lindt.com Internet: www.lindt.com ISIN: CH0010570759, CH0010570767 Valor: 1057075, 1057076 Listed: SIX End of Announcement EQS Group News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------