Investing.com -- Lindt said Monday that CEO Adalbert Lechner will leave the company, as the Swiss chocolate maker overhauls its leadership in an effort to restore growth. Lechner is leaving after 33 years at the company, having held the CEO role since October 2022.
"The Board of Directors has concluded that Lindt & Sprüngli requires new operational leadership to return to consistent, strong growth and to capture opportunities in all its markets globally," Lindt said in a statement.
The board has launched a search for a successor, with Vice Chairman and former CEO Dieter Weisskopf stepping in on an interim basis. Weisskopf previously ran Lindt for six years, until 2022.
"My task is to hand over to the next CEO a company with renewed momentum," Weisskopf said, adding that improving profitability is a priority.
Separately, the company said Michal Spiller, its Germany CEO, would also leave, with Ali Kulein, currently CEO of its Austria business, taking his place.
The company said it hopes to name a permanent CEO by the second quarter of 2027.
The leadership changes come after Lindt has cut its outlook twice this year, citing weaker-than-expected order volumes. It initially guided for organic sales growth of 6% to 8% in 2026, later lowered the range to a cap of 4%, and in September narrowed expectations further to flat sales or growth of up to 2%.
The company's shares have fallen more than 25% this year.
Original Article
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