Barry Callebaut has appointed Thomas Gaengler as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and a member of its Executive Committee, effective 1 September 2026, as the chocolate and cocoa supplier continues to advance its Focus for Growth strategy.
Gaengler will succeed Clemens Woehrle and joins Barry Callebaut with more than 30 years of international leadership experience spanning supply chain management, procurement and operations.
He moves to the Zurich-headquartered chocolate and cocoa solutions provider from Mondelēz International, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President, End-to-End Supply Chain for Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.
In that position, Gaengler worked closely with regional business units to strengthen collaboration and alignment across operations. During his time with Mondelēz, he also spent four years leading the company’s global procurement activities as Global Chief Procurement Officer.
Strengthening operational excellence
Barry Callebaut said Gaengler’s extensive experience across international food manufacturing and supply chains will support the company as it focuses on customer service, operational performance and future growth.
Hein Schumacher, CEO of Barry Callebaut, welcomed the appointment and said Gaengler would play an important role in the company’s next phase of development.
Schumacher highlighted Gaengler’s global leadership experience within the sector and his ability to build strong partnerships across organisations as important attributes as Barry Callebaut executes its strategic priorities.
Gaengler holds a master’s degree in chemical and food engineering from the Technical University Brno in the Czech Republic.
His appointment comes as Barry Callebaut works to strengthen its position as an end-to-end provider of chocolate and cocoa solutions to manufacturers worldwide.
The group operates across the complete chocolate value chain, from sourcing and processing cocoa beans through to the development and manufacture of chocolate, cocoa products, cacao coatings, fillings and decorations, as well as non-cocoa alternatives.
Supporting Barry Callebaut’s growth strategy
The leadership change follows Barry Callebaut’s launch of its Focus for Growth action plan in June 2026, which is designed to strengthen the fundamentals of the business while concentrating investment on areas offering significant long-term growth potential.
Among its priorities is a stronger focus on customer service and operational reliability, supported by targeted investments within key markets.
The company is also seeking to expand its position in higher-value segments while strengthening relationships with global accounts and regional food manufacturers.
Barry Callebaut has identified categories including biscuits, bakery, ice cream, better-for-you products and private label among the areas offering growth opportunities for its food manufacturing business.
The company reported annual sales of approximately CHF 14.8 billion for the 2024/25 financial year and operates more than 60 production facilities around the world, employing over 13,000 people.
Its customers range from major industrial food and confectionery manufacturers to chocolatiers, pastry chefs and other professional users.
Alongside its commercial priorities, Barry Callebaut continues to pursue its sustainability ambitions through its Forever Chocolate strategy and its support for the Cocoa Horizons Foundation.
Gaengler’s appointment adds extensive food-sector supply chain and operational expertise to Barry Callebaut’s Executive Committee as the business works to strengthen manufacturing performance, customer relationships and its position across the global chocolate and cocoa industry.
