dsm-firmenich’s board of directors has unanimously proposed current independent director Richard Ridinger as Thomas Leysen’s successor as chairman, following Leysen’s decision to retire.
Shareholders will vote on the appointment at an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for October 19, 2026.
Leysen will step down as director and chairman once his successor has been elected. The company said the timing reflects the completion of the dsm-firmenich merger and the establishment of its strategic direction, while allowing Leysen to devote more time to his other corporate and nonprofit roles.
Ridinger brings more than three decades of international leadership experience across life sciences, specialty chemicals and health care. He served as CEO of Lonza from 2012 to 2019, overseeing the company's transformation into a leading global life sciences partner.
He has also been an independent director of dsm-firmenich since 2023 and previously served on the Firmenich Board from 2016 to 2023, giving him extensive familiarity with the company and its history.
His current nonexecutive roles include chairman of the supervisory board of Brenntag SE and chairman of the board of Recipharm AG.
The proposed transition comes as dsm-firmenich moves into its next phase following the merger, with its portfolio reshaping nearing completion, a renewed executive committee in place and a margin-improvement program underway.
For a company focused on nutrition, health, beauty, ingredients, flavors and fragrances, the appointment also brings a chairman with deep experience spanning science-driven and innovation-focused businesses.
