Leadership shake up at Givaudan as Head of Global Science & Tech steps down

After three decades spent in research and development, Thoen is stepping down from his role as an executive committee member at the leading beauty ingredients player at the end of May.

Belgian-born Thoen’s retirement marks the end of a distinguished career in the R&D world.

He started in enzymology and plant genetics with Plant Genetic Systems in Ghent, before joining consumer goods multinational P&G in Brussels in 1988, where he went on to hold various senior positions. 

Thoen started at Givaudan as Head of Science & Technology for Flavours in 2011, before being appointed Head of Global Science & Technology and a member of the executive committee in October 2015.

Expanded global innovation collaborations​

Following the announcement, Gilles Andrier, CEO of Givaudan, said: “On behalf of Givaudan’s leadership team, I would like to thank Chris Thoen for his contributions over the past seven years.​ ​

“He successfully advanced key programmes in Flavours, expanded Givaudan’s global innovation collaborations with external partners, and established a solid foundation to strategically manage the S&T portfolio with increased transparency. I wish him all the best for his retirement.”​

80 patents​ ​

Over his career, Thoen’s innovative work contributed to the forming of more than 80 patents.

He led the development and commercialisation of many new technologies in various market products.  

In a statement, Givaudan also report that he played a key role in accelerating innovation at the company through collaboration with external partners.  

Givaudan has announced that following his retirement, all programmes under Thoen’s responsibility will be managed by the company’s respective divisional Science & Technology organisations in Flavours and Fragrances.

Senior team shake up​ ​

Thoen’s retirement marks the latest in a series of changes to the leading fragrance and flavour player’s executive committee.

 In January of this year, Givaudan announced the appointment of Louie D’Amico as president to its flavour division, a position he took up at the beginning of this month. 

The former president of the division, Mauricio Graber, left the company after a 23-year career, having served as the president of the flavour division since 2006.