Board of Directors
The Board’s principal mission is to oversee the company.
The Executive Committee is organized and led by our CEO, who is responsible for overseeing the operational management of the Group. The CEO also sets the responsibilities of the members of the Executive Committee.
CEO
Dimitri holds the position of CEO at dsm-firmenich. Previously, he served as DSM’s Co-CEO since 2020, having joined the company in 1990. Starting in Finance, he took on leadership roles in various business units around the world before being named Young Captain of the Year in the Netherlands in 2006. He was appointed to DSM’s Managing Board in 2013, and was instrumental in setting DSM’s strategy and executing its transformation journey to a fully focused health, nutrition, and bioscience company, including the development of DSM’s Food System Commitments, a series of quantifiable 2030 targets aimed at addressing urgent societal and environmental challenges linked to how the world produces and consumes food. He chairs the Young Captain Foundation, awarding and elevating young leadership potential, and is also the Chair of the ALV United World College Maastricht, bringing together young people from all directions of life to work together toward a peaceful and sustainable future. Dimitri holds a master’s in Business Economics from the University of Groningen and in Finance and Control from Maastricht University, both in the Netherlands.
BU President Perfumery & Beauty
Chief Integration Officer
Emmanuel is appointed as the new president of Perfumery & Beauty business. He joined Firmenich as President of Taste & Beyond in 2018 and drove the business’s transformation to becoming the global innovation partner of choice to the food and beverage industry, leading growth across the Group’s three segments: Beverages, Sweet Goods, and Savory. Creating winning solutions for customers with a focus on enhanced well-being, he put Firmenich’s expertise to work making healthier choices taste great, from sugar and salt reduction to plant proteins, clean label offerings, and functional nutrition solutions. Prior to joining Firmenich, Emmanuel was President of Solvay’s Novecare global business unit, preceded by 17 years with BASF, where he served as Strategy Senior VP of the Agricultural Products division. Emmanuel graduated as an Agricultural Engineer and obtained an MBA, both from the University of Lille, France.
BU President Animal Nutrition & Health
Ivo joined DSM in 1997 and held several positions across the company’s various business units before being appointed to lead the Animal Nutrition & Health business in 2019. He transformed the organization, reinforcing its position as a customer-focused partner in the development of feed ingredients for the global food supply chain. Supported by complementary acquisitions, Ivo strengthened the business’s expertise and reputation as a leading provider of solutions for farm productivity and sustainability throughout the value chain, including as a pioneer in the fast-emerging area of technology-driven precision nutrition and health. Ivo is an experienced global executive, having worked in science-based industries across Europe and Asia during his career. He holds a master’s in Chemical Engineering from the University of Enschede, the Netherlands.
Chief Legal, Risk and Compliance Officer
Jane led the governance functions of Firmenich since 2014, bringing more than 30 years of international experience in FMCG, pharmaceuticals, and research companies. With extensive experience in emerging and mature markets, Jane is committed to building trust to last by conducting responsible business for present and future generations. In addition to her role as General Counsel, Jane led the Legal & Compliance functions across Firmenich’s worldwide operations with direct oversight of Legal, Intellectual Property, Quality, Health, Safety & Environment, Regulatory, Business Ethics, and Trade Compliance. With her commitment to responsible business, the company's leadership in environmental, safety, and regulatory stewardship was recognized globally. Prior to joining Firmenich, Jane worked in multiple senior roles in the Asia Pacific region, the USA, Europe, and Australia for Abbott, AbbVie, Genea, and The Coca-Cola Company. Jane holds an LL.B. in Asian Studies and Law from the Australian National University as well as an MBA from Deakin University, Australia, and successfully completed the INSEAD International Directors Program.
Chief HR Officer
Mieke joined Firmenich as Chief Human Resources Officer in 2016. She was responsible for leading the Global Human Resources, Sustainability, and Corporate Communications functions, setting the company’s strategy and winning culture as a responsible business, with the additional responsibility of being the Secretary of the Governance and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Under her leadership, Firmenich became one of only seven companies worldwide to obtain the EDGE global certification for gender equality and was recognized with Ethical Corporation’s global Diversity & Inclusion Award. A seasoned leader with more than 20 years of broad consumer goods experience, Mieke has worked across Europe, the USA, and Asia. She holds a master’s in International Communication Strategy from the University of Burgundy, France, a master’s in Philology from Ghent University, Belgium, and diplomas in Business Administration and Management and Organizational Leadership from IMD Business School, Switzerland.
BU President Health, Nutrition & Care
Philip joined DSM in 2011 as Executive Vice-President Corporate Strategy & Acquisitions, responsible for strategy development, improvement programs, and corporate transactions. He later took on additional responsibilities, including for DSM’s Food Specialties business unit. In 2020, Philip was appointed to lead all of DSM’s activities in human nutrition and health, establishing and leading the Health, Nutrition & Care business alongside his responsibility for M&A. Before joining DSM, Philip was a partner at McKinsey & Company, and the leader of McKinsey’s Chemicals Practice in the Benelux and France. He is on the Boards of Amyris, ChemicaInvest, and AnQore. Philip holds a master’s in Chemical Engineering from KU Leuven, Belgium, and in Refinery Engineering from the French Petroleum Institute, France.
BU President Taste, Texture & Health
Patrick started his international career at DSM in 1991 when he joined Gist-Brocades, which DSM subsequently acquired in 1998. He went on to hold various leadership roles across the company, in pharmaceuticals, materials, and nutrition, including spending nine years in the USA. He oversaw the transformation of multiple businesses, creating high-performing growth teams centered around the shift to sustainability. Patrick built DSM’s Food & Beverage business, which was established by combining the company’s activities and capabilities from three former areas in 2021, to serve the fast-moving global industry with sustainable solutions for taste, texture, and health. Patrick graduated in Business Administration from Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands and obtained an MBA from Emory University in the USA.
Chief Science & Research Officer
Sarah drove Firmenich toward new frontiers of scientific excellence, building on the company’s legacy of industry-leading innovation. By embracing new technology to deliver breakthrough solutions in a fast-changing world, she harnessed a multidisciplinary and global approach to research and development. Sarah combines an extensive background in biotechnology with a strong track record in ingredients and technology development for the consumer goods industry. Prior to joining Firmenich in 2018, she held pivotal roles at Ginkgo Bioworks, Intrexon, and Amyris, having started her career in the field of biology and cancer therapeutics. She holds a bachelor’s in Biology from Harvey Mudd College as well as a master’s in Plant Biology and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of California, Berkeley, both in the USA.
Chief Financial Officer
Ralf took up the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in September 2023, marking a significant milestone in his journey with the company. He initially joined the company in 2006 under its previous identity DSM, and his path has been marked by outstanding achievements and a track record of strong performance. Ralf has played a pivotal role in propelling the transformation of the Finance function and in navigating substantial portfolio changes. Prior to his CFO role, Ralf held the position of Head of Group Finance, overseeing Finance & Control, Treasury, Taxation, and M&A. In his last role at legacy DSM, he held the position of Group Controller, spearheading both the Business Controlling and Accounting teams. Ralf began his career at PWC, laying strong foundations and building financial and strategic acumen, and then moved to Hewlett Packard, where he assumed diverse leadership responsibilities in Finance. Ralf has obtained three master’s degrees, specifically in economics as well as accountancy from Maastricht University, and in business valuation from Erasmus University Rotterdam.
The Board’s principal mission is to oversee the company.
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