Barry Callebaut CEO transition abstract
- Barry Callebaut appoints Hein Schumacher CEO after turbulent monetary 12 months
- Former Unilever chief Schumacher brings turnaround expertise from main multinationals
- Firm faces declining volumes, rising revenues and potential cocoa unit separation
- Outgoing CEO Peter Feld exits after main BC Subsequent Degree transformation
- Schumacher goals to revive progress, strengthen tradition and increase enterprise efficiency
Barry Callebaut has appointed Hein Schumacher as new CEO, efficient 26 January, 2026.
The announcement, made early this morning, follows a turbulent 12 months for the world’s greatest producer of cocoa and chocolate merchandise.
In November, full-year earnings figures revealed a sharp drop in quantity gross sales however a surge in income. After which December introduced with it sturdy rumours that Barry Callebaut is within the early levels of a deliberate separation from it international cocoa unit.
Who’s Hein Schumacher?
For those who assume you recognise the identify Hein Schumacher, it’s as a result of he served as CEO of British multinational Unilever for 2 years (2023-2025). There, he’s mentioned to have “applied a complete progress plan that allowed the corporate to sharpen its give attention to core manufacturers with increased added worth and obtain important shareholder worth progress”.
Previous to Unilever he held management positions at dairy cooperatives Royal FrieslandCampina and HJ Heinz (now Kraft Heinz). He started his skilled profession as a finance supervisor with Unilever in 1996.
“I’m honored to function CEO of Barry Callebaut,” mentioned Schumacher in a press release. “Following a interval of unprecedented market turbulence, Barry Callebaut is at an thrilling juncture.”
He went on to say that whereas the enterprise continues to navigate market and quantity pressures, Barry Callebaut has a transparent alternative to return to progress, strengthen tradition and ship a step-up in enterprise efficiency.
Barry Callebaut chairman Patrick De Maeseneire responded to Schumacher’s appointment, saying: “The Board is delighted to welcome Hein Schumacher as Barry Callebaut’s subsequent CEO after an in depth international search course of and to embark on a brand new chapter of progress, worth creation and business management.”
Maeseneire went on to say that Schumacher is the “proper chief at this stage to chart Barry Callebaut’s subsequent part of elevated buyer focus, profitable tradition and monetary power, primarily based on our totally built-in cocoa and chocolate enterprise mannequin”.
Why is Peter Feld leaving?
Few particulars have been given as to why Peter Feld is leaving now, solely that he’s to “pursue different profession alternatives”.
Nevertheless, he’ll “stay out there” to Barry Callebaut in the course of the transition to Hein, with a give attention to transferring his information of the BC Subsequent Degree transformation programme.
“With the upcoming completion of BC Subsequent Degree, the Board and Peter determined that now’s the proper time for a CEO transition,” mentioned Maeseneire. “On behalf of the complete Board, we thank Peter for his immense work and management and need him all the very best for the long run.”
“During the last almost three years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside among the most gifted individuals within the business and to construct the inspiration for future progress,” mentioned Feld. “Because the Board and I mentioned, with most initiatives of BC Subsequent Degree already applied, it’s a good time to go the baton to Hein. I do that with pleasure and gratitude to all who contributed. Barry Callebaut’s future is in good arms with Hein, and I want Hein all the very best in his new function.”
What’s subsequent for Barry Callebaut?
Schumacher steps into the function at a pivotal second for Barry Callebaut. With BC Subsequent Degree nearing completion, the corporate is getting ready for what could possibly be a reshaped operational and strategic panorama – one that will embody important structural adjustments, relying on the end result of the reported cocoa‑unit separation discussions.
For now, the main focus stays on stabilising volumes, rebuilding momentum and reassuring clients and buyers after a interval marked by inflationary strain, cocoa market volatility and shifting demand patterns.
Analysts shall be watching carefully to see how Schumacher applies his turnaround expertise from Unilever and FrieslandCampina to the cocoa and chocolate large, and whether or not his arrival alerts a deeper strategic reset within the months forward.
As Barry Callebaut strikes into 2026, the corporate faces a mixture of pressures and potentialities, and its newly appointed chief government will play a central function in shaping the following chapter for the world’s largest chocolate maker.
