Flavors and fragrances manufacturer Symrise AG, which is based in Holzminden, Germany, has appointed Heinz-Jürgen Bertram its new ceo. Bertram, 50, succeeds Gerold Linzbach, who for personal reasons asked that his contract not be renewed when it expires on October 22. Linzbach is leaving Symrise by mutual consent after four successful years at the helm of the company.

After receiving his doctorate in chemistry, Bertram began his professional career in 1987 when he joined Bayer AG in Leverkusen. He moved to Holzminden in 1990 to work for Haarmann & Reimer GmbH, which was later absorbed into the newly formed Symrise Group in 2003.

Bertram held a number of managerial positions in the research and development area before taking over for the Group’s global manufacturing operations in 2005. He has been a member of the Executive Board of Symrise AG since October of 2006, when he was appointed to head up the Flavor & Nutrition Division, which contributed €648 million to total Group sales of €1.320 billion in 2008.