DSM-Firmenich AG’s Board of Directors has unveiled changes to the company’s CEO structure after completing its merger with Firmenich International SA on 8 May 2023. The Co-CEO structure, which includes each CEO holding additional CFO and COO responsibilities, will change effective 1 September 2023. Dimitri de Vreeze will serve as the CEO of DSM-Firmenich, and Ralf Schmeitz will be appointed as the new CFO.
Geraldine Matchett, who contributed significantly to DSM’s strategic transformation and merger with Firmenich, has decided to leave the company on 1 September to pursue other opportunities. Thomas Leysen, Chairman of DSM-Firmenich, expressed his gratitude to Matchett for her exceptional work as Co-CEO and CFO.
Ralf Schmeitz has a solid background in Finance & Control, Treasury, Taxation, and M&A. He began his career at PWC and later held leadership positions at Hewlett Packard. Schmeitz joined DSM in 2006, where he was instrumental in the DSM Finance transformation and the company’s portfolio changes. As of 1 September 2023, Schmeitz will join DSM-Firmenich’s Executive Committee as CFO.
Leysen expressed his confidence in Dimitri de Vreeze’s leadership and welcomed Ralf Schmeitz to his new position as CFO. He believes the updated leadership structure will benefit the company as it moves forward post-merger.
