Thomas Leysen is retiring as chair of dsm-firmenich. The board proposes former Lonza CEO Richard Ridinger as his successor. Shareholders vote Oct. 19.
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Thomas Leysen, the chair who helped steer dsm-firmenich through its merger and post-merger integration, is retiring. The board has proposed independent director Richard Ridinger, the former Lonza CEO, as his replacement.
Shareholders will vote on Ridinger's appointment at an extraordinary general meeting on Oct. 19. Leysen will step down once his successor is elected.
Leysen said the timing is right for a handover. The merger is fully complete, the portfolio is nearing its final shape with the Animal Nutrition & Health sale expected to close this year, the executive committee has been refreshed, and a margin improvement program is underway.
"It is an opportune moment to hand over to a new chair," Leysen said in a statement.
Ridinger has been an independent director at dsm-firmenich since the merger. He spent seven years as CEO of Lonza, the Swiss contract drugmaker, where he led a turnaround and expansion that more than doubled revenue. Before Lonza, he held senior roles at Cognis and Henkel across R&D, operations, and business management.
The board cited Ridinger's experience in life sciences, specialty chemicals, and healthcare, along with his familiarity with the company, as reasons to expect continuity in strategy.
dsm-firmenich was created in 2023 through the merger of Royal DSM and Firmenich. The company reported revenue of more than €9 billion for its continuing operations last year, after the planned sale of its Animal Nutrition & Health business. It employs roughly 21,000 people across nearly 60 countries and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the SIX Swiss Exchange.
Leysen had chaired the board since the combination. His tenure included navigating raw material cost inflation, a consumer demand shift toward value products, and the separation of the animal nutrition unit, which the company agreed to sell to a consortium led by private equity firm EQT for €3.3 billion.
"It has been a pleasure and an honor to chair the board during the formative stages of this unique company," Leysen said.
Ridinger said he looks forward to "shaping the company's next chapter together with the board and the executive committee."
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