Movers and Shakers The right people in the right roles can make all the difference


Hein Schumacher appointed new CEO of Barry Callebaut


Barry Callebaut AG has announced the appointment of Hein Schumacher as its next chief executive officer, effective January 26, 2026, marking a leadership transition as the world’s largest chocolate manufacturer nears completion of a multi- year transformation program. Schumacher will succeed Peter Feld, who will step down after nearly three years in the role. The Zurich-based group said Feld’s


departure coincides with the conclusion of “BC Next Level,” a company-wide initiative launched to simplify operations, strengthen financial discipline and improve agility amid an exceptionally challenging market environment. Feld will remain available during the transition to support the handover and ensure continuity through the program’s final stages. The board characterised the change as


a natural inflection point rather than a response to performance concerns. Feld joined Barry Callebaut in April 2023 with a mandate to drive structural change as the cocoa and chocolate industry faced


what the company has called a “perfect storm,” including record-high cocoa prices, volatile commodity markets, geopolitical disruptions and shifting customer demand. During his tenure, the group prioritised


cost discipline, portfolio focus and operational streamlining. While margins and volumes were pressured in parts of the business—reflecting broader industry dynamics—the board credited Feld with laying the foundations for a more resilient operating model. “With the upcoming completion of BC


Next Level, the Board and Peter decided that now is the right time for a CEO transition,” Chairman Patrick De Maeseneire said, underscoring that the move does not signal a change in strategic direction. Schumacher’s appointment suggests a shift in emphasis from restructuring to growth and customer focus. He brings more than 25 years of experience in the global food sector, most recently serving as CEO of Unilever from 2023 to 2025, where he sharpened the group’s focus on core brands


and higher-value segments. Previously, he was CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina, leading the dairy cooperative through commodity volatility, the COVID-19 pandemic and a major restructuring. His earlier roles at HJ Heinz and Unilever


provided deep exposure to emerging markets and large-scale transformations— closely aligned with Barry Callebaut’s integrated cocoa and chocolate model. Schumacher described the company as being at “an exciting juncture,” citing opportunities to restore growth while maintaining financial discipline. Feld called the transition a planned handover, saying “it is a good time to pass the baton.”


Tate & Lyle director Glenn Fish resigns; Heather Harding appointed to board


Tate & Lyle PLC said Glenn M. Fish has resigned as a director of the company, following his recent appointment as president and chief executive officer of J M Huber Corporation. Fish had been appointed to Tate &


Lyle’s board by Huber, the company’s largest shareholder at the time of Tate & Lyle’s acquisition of the CP Kelco business from Huber in November 2024. The appointment was made under a relationship agreement that allows Huber to nominate two non-executive directors as long as it holds at least 15% of Tate & Lyle’s ordinary shares. At the time of his appointment, Fish served as Huber’s executive vice president and chief financial officer. Huber has nominated Heather Harding


to replace Fish as a non-executive director, with effect from 27 January


as a non-executive director in December 2022 and has more than 25 years of operational experience across global industrial manufacturing companies. She most recently served as chief financial officer of Luxfer Holdings PLC, a materials technology company focused on high- performance materials, components and gas cylinders. Before joining Luxfer, Harding was vice president of finance for several operating units within Cooper Industries, now a subsidiary of Eaton Corporation, from 2004 to 2017. In addition to her role at Huber, Harding


2026. Harding will join Claudia Vaz de Lestapis, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of J M Huber Corporation, as Huber’s second representative on Tate & Lyle’s board. Harding joined Huber’s corporate board


sits on the board of Janus International Group, Inc., which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and currently chairs its audit committee. She is a certified public accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.


62 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • DECEMBER/JANUARY 2025/26


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