Our group operates a dual management structure consisting of an Executive Board and a Supervisory Board
Our Executive Board manages the company with the ultimate aim of increasing our company’s value. The Supervisory Board oversees and advises the Executive Board on matters such as business development, planning, strategy and risk mitigation.
Striving for economic success is what drives us. At board level, we encourage our teams to create innovative solutions that look beyond the classic areas of flavors and fragrances.
Our management at Symrise
The overarching focus of both our Executive and Supervisory Board is to drive the Symrise Group’s sustainable, long-term success. The two boards meet regularly to discuss business development, planning, strategy and risk mitigation. In compliance with the German Codetermination Act (MitbestG).
To fulfill its responsibilities more efficiently, the Supervisory Board formed a total of four committees. These committees draft the Supervisory Board’s resolutions and prepare the agenda items to be addressed in the full session. The three committees are the Auditing Committee, the Arbitration Committee pursuant to § 27 (3) of the Codetermination Act (MitbestG), a General Committee and a Nominations Committee. In certain instances where permitted by law, the Supervisory Board’s decision-making authority is assigned to its committees. For more information please see the Rules of Procedure of the Supervisory Board of Symrise AG.
Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board for Scent & Care
Personal particulars
Date of birth:
February 7, 1964
Place of birth:
Lunéville, France
Qualifications
1988:
University degree in veterinary medicine and MBA HEC Paris
Career history
1989:
Sales & Marketing Pfizer
1990:
Product Manager/Head for Europe at Merial (Rhone Poulenc Group)
1996:
General Manager Rhone Poulenc Poland
2000:
Head of "Prepared Food“ Business Unit Food Rhodia & Vice President for Europe
2004:
Vice President Gobal Marketing & Sales Development Danisco
2006:
Global Market Director „Food and Pharma“ at Air Liquide
2009:
Head of the Food Division Diana
2014:
Head of the Diana Division at Symrise
2016:
Symrise AG, Member of the Board for Nutrition
2021:
Symrise AG, Member of the Board for Flavor & Nutrition
until 09/2024:
Symrise AG, Member of the Board for Taste, Nutrition & Health
since 04/2024:
Symrise AG, Chief Executive Officer
Membership of statutory supervisory boards of other German companies
none
Membership of comparable supervisory bodies (in Germany or abroad)
Probi AB, Lund, Sweden, Chairman of the Board of Directors VetAgroSup, Lyon, France, Chairman of the Board of Directors Swedencare AB, Malmoe, Sweden, Member of the Board of Directors
Chief Executive Officer of AC Immune S.A., Lausanne, Switzerland
Personal Information
Date of birth:
September 26, 1957
Place of birth:
Munich, Germany
Training
1980:
Pharmaceutical studies, University of Würzburg
1981:
Registered pharmacist
1984:
Doctoral degree in toxicology (magna cum laude), University of Würzburg
1999:
Registered toxicologist
2000:
Postdoctoral teaching position, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Professional Career
1985:
American research grant, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
1989:
Various research positions, Nestlé, Switzerland
1998:
Head of Global Research, Nestlé, Switzerland
2001:
Global management of Nestlé Science & Technology Alliances, Nestlé, Switzerland
since 2003:
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, AC Immune S.A., Lausanne, Switzerland
Membership in Legally Mandated Domestic Supervisory Boards
Symrise AG, Holzminden, Member of the Supervisory Board
Membership in Comparable Supervisory Bodies (Domestic and International)
Bio MedInvest AG, Basel, Switzerland, Chairperson of the Board of Directors AB2 Bio SA, Lausanne, Switzerland, Chairperson of the Board of Directors E.M.S. Electro Medicals System S.A., Member of the Supervisory Board
Manager Marketing Unit Electrical Encapsulation and Speciality Raw Materials, Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany
1998-2001:
Regional Director for Polyurethanes in South America, Bayer SA, Sao Paulo, Brazil
2001-2002:
Vice President Specialities Business Group NAFTA-Region, Bayer Corp.,Pittsburgh, USA
2002-2003:
Senior Vice President & Head of Polymer Solutions Americas Division, Bayer Corp., Pittsburgh, USA
2003-2004:
Executive Vice President, Head of Region Europe, Middle East and Africa, Member of the Executive Committee, Bayer Polymers AG, Leverkusen, Germany
2004-2011:
Executive Vice President & General Manager Business Unit Polyurethanes, Member of the Executive Committee, Bayer MaterialScience AG, Leverkusen, Germany
2011-2012:
Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer, Member of the Executive Committee, Bayer MaterialScience AG, Leverkusen, Germany
2012-2015:
CEO & Managing Director, Treofan Group GmbH, Raunheim, Germany
2015-2018:
CEO & Managing Director, CABB Group GmbH, Sulzbach, Germany
2018-2022:
President & CEO, Neste Corp., Espoo, Finland
since 2022
CEO, LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Houston/USA and London/UK
Membership in other Legally Mandated Domestic Supervisory Boards
Symrise AG, Holzminden, Member of the Supervisory Bord
Membership in Comparable Supervisory Bodies (Domestic and International)
LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Houston/USA and London/UK, Member of the Supervisory Board
Business Management Degree, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
Professional Career
1988-1991:
Brand & Marketing Manager, Detergent and Personal Care, Unilever Foods, New Zealand
1991-1992:
Logistic & Planning Director, Unilever Food Solutions; Australia
1992-1995:
Marketing Manager, Unilever Foods, Netherlands
1995-1996:
Vice President, European Dressings Category, Unilever Foods, Netherlands
1996-2000:
Marketing Director and Global Category Director Olive Oil, Unilever, Italy
2000-2004:
Chairman / CEO, Unilever Nordics Ice Cream, Sweden
2004-2008:
Chairman / CEO, Unilever Middle East & North Africa, United Arab Emirates
2008-2011:
Executive Vice President / CEO, Unilever SE Asia Australasia, Singapore, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Pt. Unilever Indonesia, Indonesia
2011-2017:
President / CEO and Member Global Leadership Team, Unilever Europe B.V., Netherlands
2018-2020:
Chief Executive Officer and Director, AVON, England
Membership in other Legally Mandated Domestic Supervisory Boards
Symrise AG, Holzminden, Member of the Supervisory Bord
Membership in Comparable Supervisory Bodies (Domestic and International)
Ahold Delhaize N.V., Netherlands, Member of the Supervisory Board Pandora, Denmark, Member of the Board of Directors
Independency
The Supervisory Board considers Mr. Zijderveld to be independent. Mr. Zijderveld does not have any personal or business relationship, directly or indirectly, with the Company, any shareholder of the Company who is subject to disclosure obligations or with any member of the Management Board or Supervisory Board. The aforementioned has not been the case in the past too and does also include Mr Zijderveld's family members.
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