Nestlé Appoints Outsider Ulf Mark Schneider as CEO Replacing Bulcke

28 Jun 2016 --- Nestlé has poached Ulf Mark Schneider, the chief executive of German healthcare company Fresenius, to become its new chief executive, in a surprise move shifting from its tradition of appointing internal candidates to the top job.

Schneider will replace current chief executive Paul Bulcke, who has been proposed to be Nestlé’s next chairman after Peter Brabeck-Letmathe retires from that position next year.

The appointment of Schneider will come as a blow to a number of internal candidates for the role, which are understood to include its head of the Americas, Laurent Freixe and Chris Johnson, head of business excellence.

It marks the first time that Nestlé has appointed an outsider to the role since 1922 and also indicates the growing importance that the Swiss food giant is placing on health and wellness.

Schneider, who holds German and US citizenship, joined Fresenius in 2001 and served as its chief financial officer before becoming CEO in 2003. Prior to that, he was finance director for Gehe, a pharmaceutical and retail distributor.

Nestlé chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe: “With the proposed appointment of Paul Bulcke as Chairman of the Board and Ulf Mark Schneider as CEO, the Board has increased the company’s capabilities to accelerate Nestlé’s journey to become the world’s preeminent player in the Nutrition, Health and Wellness sector.”

“Together with our excellent executive team, Nestlé is well prepared to face the increasingly difficult external environment and deliver on both its long-term and short-term performance goals.”

Nestlé CEO Paul Bulcke: “I thank the Board for their confidence in proposing me as Chairman and I’m looking forward to working with Ulf Mark Schneider for Nestlé’s continued success.”

“Ulf Mark Schneider brings to Nestlé a wealth of proven and seasoned professional and personal skills which will blend very well with Nestlé’s experienced management and company culture.”

Ulf Mark Schneider said: “I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to join Nestlé. This is a truly iconic global company with a proud heritage and tremendous future prospects.”

“With consumers around the world taking a deeper interest in their personal health and wellbeing, Nestlé’s industry-leading global food and beverage business positions it well for advancing the vision of Nutrition, Health and Wellness. I very much look forward to working with the Nestlé team and all Nestlé stakeholders as we continue to pursue this vision.”

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