Lindt Calls Back a Former Boss as the Chocolate Melts

Posted on in Leadership

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Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Sprüngli announced on October 19, 2026, that it had parted ways with chief executive Adalbert Lechner, effective immediately. The company did not explain the circumstances. Lechner, 65, had spent 33 years at Lindt and became CEO in early 2022. His predecessor, 71-year-old Dieter Weisskopf, is returning to run the company on an interim basis. A permanent successor is expected in the second quarter of 2027.

The boomerang CEO

Weisskopf knows the job well. He served as chief financial officer for many years, led the company until 2022 and still sits on the board. The board said Lindt needs new operational leadership to return to steady, strong growth and to make better use of global market opportunities. Weisskopf's own to-do list is clear: restore growth in Europe, invest more in the brands and improve profitability.

When cocoa gets expensive, so does leadership

The background is a bitter year for a sweet business. Rising cocoa prices pushed Lindt to raise retail prices by an average of 11.8% in the first half of 2026, and volumes fell significantly, especially in Germany, Switzerland and the UK. The company has since cut some prices again and is leaning on smaller packs. At the end of September it lowered its 2026 organic growth forecast to 0–2%, down from the original 6–8%, its second revenue warning within a year. A summer heatwave in Europe did not help either, which is about as on-brand a problem as a chocolate maker can have. The warning sent the share price sharply lower.

Not everything is melting. Business in North America and Asia is running significantly better. Lindt is also reshuffling its German division: country manager Michael Spiller leaves after 23 years, Austria head Ali Kulein takes over, and global sales director Fabian Reinhardt moves into Kulein's old role, with both changes effective October 26. For now, the company has chosen experience over experiment while it looks for a long-term leader.