Currently president of Unilever Foods and member of Unilever’s Group Executive Committee, Antoine de Saint-Affrique will take on the role of CEO for Barry Callebaut.

In his current role, he is accountable for businesses with a combined turnover of €12.4 billion across eight regions and three categories, including Unilever’s Foodservice Division and the newly formed Baking, Cooking & Spreading company.

Since 2009, Antoine de Saint-Affrique has also served as an Independent Non-Executive Director at Essilor, a world leader in ophthalmic optical products and a CAC 40/Eurostoxx 50 company.

“With Antoine de Saint-Affrique, the Board has appointed a new ceo with an impressive track record in the food industry,” says Andreas Jacobs, chairman of the Board, Barry Callebaut.

“The Board is excited to have Antoine de Saint-Affrique join our company. We are convinced his entrepreneurial spirit, strategic skills and great motivational talent will lead Barry Callebaut to the next level of growth.”

As for Antoine de Saint-Affrique, he says he’s honored to be given the opportunity to lead and shape the world's leading chocolate and cocoa company.

“Barry Callebaut offers a unique environment since it combines three qualities which rarely come together: a global leader, which is publicly listed, but also a family company with longer-term purpose, vision and a strong entrepreneurial spirit,” he says.

Juergen Steinemann was appointed ceo of Barry Callebaut in 2009 and elected to the Board as Vice Chairman in December 2014. He will continue to serve as CEO until September 30, 2015 and will subsequently ensure a seamless transition to Antoine de Saint-Affrique.   

“I am proud of what our passionate team of over 9,300 dedicated colleagues, together with my colleagues on the Executive Committee, have achieved during the past six years,” says Steinemann. “Thanks to our strong culture we have built a great foundation to further outperform the market and to keep winning. I am very pleased that I can hand over my ceo responsibilities to Antoine de Saint-Affrique, who is ideally suited to grow our wonderful company and to whom I wish the best of success.”  

Barry Callebaut Group manufactures high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, from origins to confections. Products include chocolate fillings, decorations, and compounds. The group is based in Zurich.