Executive Committee

Dimitri de Vreeze,
Chief Executive Officer (since 2023)

Dimitri de Vreeze has held the position of CEO of dsm-firmenich since September 2023. Under his leadership, the company has made great strides to establish itself as a global leader in nutrition, health, and beauty, able to help customers deliver what consumers want, what we collectively need, and what our planet demands. Previously, he served as the former DSM’s Co-CEO from 2020, having joined the company in 1990. Starting in Finance, he took on leadership roles in various Business Units around the world before being named Young Captain of the Year in the Netherlands in 2006. He was appointed to DSM’s Managing Board in 2013 and was instrumental in setting DSM’s strategy and executing its transformation journey to a fully focused health, nutrition, and bioscience company.

He chairs the Young Captain Foundation, awarding and elevating young leadership potential, and is also the Chair of the ALV United World College Maastricht, bringing together young people from all directions of life to work together toward a peaceful and sustainable future.

Emmanuel Butstraen,
Business Unit President Perfumery & Beauty (since 2023)
Chief Operations Officer (since 2024)

Emmanuel Butstraen was appointed President of dsm-firmenich’s Perfumery & Beauty business in July 2023. In addition, he was appointed Chief Operating Officerof dsm-firmenich in May 2024. He has played an instrumental role in bringing the formerlyseparate Perfumery and Ingredients divisions, giving clear accountability to managers, differentiating fine fragrance, and ensuring teams are laser-focused on customer typology. Previously, he served as the President of Taste & Beyond of the former Firmenich as from 2018 and drove the business’s transformation to become the global innovation partner of choice to the food and beverage industry, leading growth across the Group’s three segments: Beverages, Sweet Goods, and Savory. Creating winning solutions for customers with a focus on enhanced well-being, Emmanuel Butstraen put Firmenich’s expertise to work – making healthier choices taste great, from sugar and salt reduction to plant proteins, clean-label offerings, and functional nutrition solutions. Prior to joining Firmenich, Emmanuel Butstraen was President of Solvay’s Novecare global Business Unit, preceded by 17 years with BASF, where he served as Strategy Senior VP of the Agricultural Products division.

Mieke Van de Capelle,
Chief Human Resources Officer (since 2023)

Mieke Van de Capelle was appointed as Chief Human Resources Officer of dsm-firmenich in April 2023. Previously, she served as Chief Human Resources Officer of the former Firmenich as from 2016. At Firmenich, she was responsible for leading the Global Human Resources, Sustainability, and Corporate Communications functions, setting the company’s strategy and winning culture as a responsible business, with the additional responsibility of being the Secretary of the Governance and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Under Mieke’s leadership, dsm-firmenich has successfully implemented a new operating model, values and integration of all people processes cementing our new company’s way of working as one. Also under her leadership, Firmenich became one of only seven companies worldwide to obtain the EDGE global certification for gender equality and was recognized with Ethical Corporation’s global Diversity & Inclusion Award. A seasoned leader with more than 20 years of broad consumer goods experience, Mieke Van de Capelle has worked across Europe, the US, and Asia.

Philip Eykerman,
Business Unit President Health, Nutrition & Care and Head of M&A (since 2023)

Philip Eykerman was appointed in April 2023 as President of the Health, Nutrition & Care (HNC) business and Head of Strategy and M&A, positions he also held at legacy DSM. In that time, he dealt with the consequences of our merger in HNC, drove the vitamin transformation program for HNC, and successfully grew HNC into a global leader in preventative health and patient care. He also led the Group’s M&A activities (ANH divestment and portfolio fine-tuning activities) in line with our Group growth strategy, further strengthening our diverse expertise and unique capabilities as innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty.

Previously, Philip served as Executive VP of Corporate Strategy & Acquisitions at the former DSM, was a partner at McKinsey & Company, and leader of McKinsey's Chemicals Practice in Benelux and France. He was a member of the Advisory Board of the Rotterdam School of Management and in 2024 was appointed Non-Executive Director of Umicore, a circular materials technology company.

Ivo Lansbergen,
Business Unit President Animal Nutrition & Health (since 2023)

Ivo Lansbergen was appointed as President of the Animal Nutrition & Health business of dsm-firmenich in April 2023. Prior to this, he worked at the former DSM as from 1997 and held several positions across the company’s various Business Units before being appointed to lead Animal Nutrition & Health in 2019. In this role, he transformed the organization, reinforcing its position as a customer-focused partner in the development of feed ingredients for the global food supply chain.

Ivo Lansbergen has strengthened dsm-firmenich’s Animal, Nutrition & Health business’s expertise and reputation as a leading provider of solutions for farm productivity and sustainability throughout the value chain, including as a pioneer in the fast-emerging area of technology-driven precision nutrition and health. He is an experienced global executive, having worked in science-based industries across Europe and Asia during his career.

Patrick Niels,
Business Unit President Taste, Texture & Health (since 2023)

Patrick Niels was appointed as President of the Taste, Texture & Health business of dsm-firmenich in May 2023. In his current role, Patrick Niels has successfully brought Taste and Ingredients Solutions under one roof and established cross-divisional collaboration. While transforming the business, he has continued to focus on performance and has succeeded in growing the two divisions above market. He started his international career in 1991 when he joined Gist-Brocades, which the former DSM subsequently acquired in 1998. He went on to hold various leadership roles across DSM, in pharmaceuticals, materials, and nutrition, including spending nine years in the US.

At DSM, he oversaw the transformation of multiple businesses, creating high-performing growth teams centered around the shift to sustainability. Patrick Niels built DSM’s Food & Beverage business, which was established by combining the company’s activities and capabilities from three former areas in 2021. Following the merger of DSM and Firmenich, his responsibilities included the integration of the full Food & Beverage activities of dsm-firmenich.

Dr. Sarah Reisinger,
Chief Science & Research Officer (since 2023)

Dr. Sarah Reisinger was appointed as Chief Science & Research Officer of dsm-firmenich in April 2023. She is driving dsm-firmenich towards new frontiers of scientific excellence, building on the company's legacy of industry-leading innovation. By embracing new technology to deliver breakthrough solutions in a fast-changing world, she harnesses a multidisciplinary and global approach to research and development. She had joined the former Firmenich in 2018 as Vice President of Biotechnology & Process Engineering, before becoming that company’s Chief Research Officer in 2021.

Dr. Sarah Reisinger combines an extensive background in biotechnology with a strong track record in ingredients and technology development for the consumer goods industry. Prior to joining Firmenich, she held pivotal roles at Ginkgo Bioworks, Intrexon, and Amyris, having started her career in the field of biology and cancer therapeutics. She is also serving as Chair of EuropaBio.

Ralf Schmeitz,
Chief Financial Officer (since 2023)

Ralf Schmeitz was appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of dsm-firmenich in September 2023, marking a significant milestone in his journey with the company. He initially joined the former DSM in 2006, and his path has been marked by outstanding achievements and a track record of strong performance.

Ralf Schmeitz has played a pivotal role in propelling the transformation of the Finance function and in navigating substantial portfolio changes. Prior to his CFO role, he held the position of Head of Group Finance, overseeing Finance & Control, Treasury and Taxation. In his last role at former DSM, he held the position of Group Controller, spearheading both the Business Controlling and Accounting teams. Ralf Schmeitz began his career at PwC, laying strong foundations and building financial and strategic acumen, and then moved to Hewlett Packard, where he assumed diverse leadership responsibilities in Finance.

Jane Sinclair,
Chief Legal, Risk, Regulatory and Compliance Officer (since 2023)

Jane Sinclair was appointed Chief Legal, Risk, Regulatory and Compliance Officer of dsm-firmenich in April 2023. Previously, she served as General Counsel of the former Firmenich as from 2016. She is a seasoned governance expert and General Counsel with over 40 years of experience in the healthcare and consumer sectors living and working in Europe, the United States and Asia Pacific. Known for her strategic oversight and commitment to good corporate governance, she has been instrumental in setting up the risk and compliance governance ecosystem at dsm-firmenich. She has contributed to >20 significant mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs in the consumer goods and healthcare industries, ensuring compliance, minimizing risk exposure and establishing a solid foundation for a smooth transition. She has robust expertise in risk management, product regulatory, and compliance and proven experience in stakeholder management.

Prior to joining Firmenich, Jane Sinclair worked in multiple senior roles in Europe, the US, Asia-Pacific, and Australia for Abbott, AbbVie, Genea, and The Coca-Cola Company. She is a non-executive Board member of the National Safety Council (USA).