Symrise Receives Business Award for Growth Despite Crisis

In its decision, the jury cited stable sales development (up four percent between Q3/2008 and Q3/2009) and ten percent growth in earnings (EBITDA). Symrise, the jury explained, has managed to increase its market share significantly, despite the difficult business climate.

26 Feb 2010 --- On February 25, Symrise was presented with the prestigious “Best of European Business” award for 2010. Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, the world’s largest strategic consulting firm to hail from Europe, presents this award to two companies and two business leaders for growth during times of crisis and for demonstrating exemplary leadership in keeping with European values.

Symrise received this honor in the “Growth despite crisis” category for mid-sized companies (i.e., companies with sales of up to five billion euros) on Thursday evening at the Europäisches Haus in Berlin. In its decision, the jury cited stable sales development (up four percent between Q3/2008 and Q3/2009) and ten percent growth in earnings (EBITDA). Symrise, the jury explained, has managed to increase its market share significantly, despite the difficult business climate.

Symrise CEO Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram responded by saying, “We are very pleased to have received this prestigious honor. For us, the award confirms that we are on the right track with our strategy. It also inspires us, however, to reflect more consciously on our values and European roots in the context of a global marketplace.”

Symrise joined a distinguished winners’ circle Thursday night: HOCHTIEF AG, for instance, was the corporate winner in the “Large Corporation” category. Dr. Jürgen Hambrecht, CEO of BASF SE, was honored with the “Euro-pean Manager” award, and Hartmut Ostrowski, CEO of Bertelsmann AG, re-ceived the “Courageous Leadership” prize.

This marked the fifth time that the internationally known “Best of European Business” award has been presented.