Kilchberg, Zurich, Switzerland
As CEO of Global Travel Retail (GTR) and Shared Services at Lindt & Sprüngli, I lead a passionate team in delivering premium chocolate experiences that enchant travelers in duty-free and travel retail environments worldwide. With 30 years in FMCG leadership, I drive sustainable growth, innovation, and market leadership through shopper-centric strategies, leveraging insights from our POLARIS Category Research to boost impulse purchases and position confectionery as an essential traveler indulgence. As a category leader, we've achieved numerous industry accolades, including the 2025 Product of the Year for LINDT DUBAI STYLE CHOCOLATE (Frontier Awards and Global Travel Retail Awards), alongside novelties like the LINDT Travel Retail Exclusive Pistachio range and LINDT CHOCO WAFERS. My leadership philosophy balances people and results, fostering collaboration, entrepreneurship, and responsibility to empower teams across regions. Fluent in German, French, and English, I thrive in global settings, building strategic partnerships with retailers like Avolta, Heinemann, Lagardère or Dubai Duty Free to drive mutual success and operational efficiencies. As a Management Committee member of TFWA (representing brands), I contribute to shaping the future of the duty-free and travel retail sector, advocating for innovation and sustainability. Previously, I held pivotal roles at ARYZTA/Hiestand and Hilcona, where I delivered significant market gains and efficiencies. With a commitment to ethical practices and premium indulgence, I am passionate about unlocking business opportunities, always open to exploring collaborative ventures in travel retail, FMCG innovation, or confectionery trends to create shared value. #travelretail #fmcg #innovation #sustainablegrowth #lindt #tfwa
TFWA is an association of brands, whose mission is to identify trends and opportunities, build awareness and provide a business platform for the global Duty Free and Travel Retail industry to prosper, influencing Duty Free and Travel Retail strategies & policies.
- CEO Global Travel Retail & Shared Services Duty Free & Intl. Distributors - Leading Regional Travel Retail Teams in APAC, MEIA, Europe and The Americas - Full P&L responsability Results - Strong Market Share gains, Nr 1 Brand in Travel Retail - Led global teams to secure various industry awards including "Best-in-Class" Supplier, several Best Global Product Launches in TR, Best Chocolate Store, etc. and "People of the Year" Award by Moodie Davitt Report - Expanded market share in Europe, MEIA, The Americas, and Asia-Pacific through strategic partnerships with retailers like Avolta, Heinemann, Lagardère or regional accounts (e.g. Dubai Duty Free, Qatar Duty Free) - Strengthening of Global Lindt presence at airports around the World with Boutiques at Zurich Airport & Changi Singapore or Shop-in-Shop concepts - Launched exclusive editions (e.g., Dark Caramel Sea Salt, Pistachio) or Launch of Dubai Style Chocolate in collaboration with key airports.
- Marketing Director - Wholesale / Retail, Convenience, Food-Service & Bakery Channel - Member of Swiss Executive Board and Aryzta Management Team - Managing Team of 30 employees (PM, IC-Business, Communication, R&D, Bake-off Academy) Results - Strong Market share gains & overachieved EBIT targets - New brand positioning HIESTAND (Corp. Design, POS concepts, MRK campaign, catalogue, training) - Strong acceleration of Innovation Pipeline (e.g. Launch Ovo Crunchy Roll, Emmi Kaltbach) - Winner of "Golden Egg Award" & Organic Zwirbelbrot "Bio Knospe" honouring
- Leading Category Management CH / Europe, Product Management International, Marketing CH - Managing Team of 10 employees - Fresh Convenience wholesale & Frozen Food Service (Pizzas, Pasta, Ready-Meals, Sandwich, Salads) Results - +50% Sales growth within 4 years - Category Management Plans Betty Bossi Coop, Anna's Best Migros - Implementation of new Innovation Process (Time-to-Money)
- Sales Director Switzerland - Wholesale, Retail Stores, B2B, e-Shop - Member of the Swiss Executive Board - Managing a Team of 70 employees (KAM, Sales-Force, Customer Service, 6 Retail Stores) Results - High Market share gains, strong top & bottom line growth - Launch of Pick & Mix concept in Switzerland, strong Launch Lindt Teddy X-Mas - Retail expansion, opening of 3 new Lindt Outlet stores (Landquart, Foxtown, Aubonne)
- Corporate Strategy development on Group Level - Branding, Communication-Strategy, Creative Agency Pitch: Jung von Matt "Für Besseresser" Launch - Project Leader Supply-chain: process optimization, improving efficiency by 20%
- GM role, P&L responsibility, Business plan development & implementation - Managing Team 50 employees (Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, Logistics - ultrafresh 365 days) - Turnaround, Growth Strategy, Convenience Market, ultrafresh products (Sandwich, Salads, fruits, etc.) Results - evaluation & build-up new HQ, grew Sales from 8 to 20m CHF, turned loss into profitable growth - implementation of new ERP System (JD Edwards)