Group management team of the HOCHDORF Swiss Nutrition

Ralph Siegl, CEO

1966, Swiss citizen. Place of residence: Wolfhausen, ZH. Position: CEO of the HOCHDORF Group since 21 January 2022. Training/degree: Licentiate in Political Science/International Relations at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) (lic. rer. publ.) and Master Degree in Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) (MSc Economics). Professional background: 1993 to 1995 Research assistant for goods transport at the FDFA/FDEA Integration Office, Bern and Brussels; 1995 to 2006 worked for Nestlé Suisse SA, Vevey and Nestlé Australia Ltd, Sydney, ultimately as Vice President Exports; 2006 to 2016 CEO of Confiseur Läderach AG, Ennenda; 2016 to 2018 Managing Director, Group Management & Operations, Läderach Group, Ennenda. Other activities: Since 2018, consultant at Experts for Leaders AG, Zurich; since 2010 member of the Board of Directors of Gübelin Holding AG, Lucerne; since 2013 member of the Board of Directors (Chair 2016 to 2020) of Bank Linth LLB AG, Uznach; since 2020 chair of Zibatra Beteiligungen AG, Rickenbach SO; since 2022 member of the Board of Directors of laflor AG, Zurich; since 2023 President of the association SwissBoardForum. Other activities at HOCHDORF Group: Since 2022 Chairman of the Foundation Board of the HOCHDORF pension fund ("Pensionskasse der HOCHDORF-Gruppe"), Hochdorf.

Thomas Freiburghaus, CFO

1968, Swiss citizen. Place of residence: Wettingen, AG. Position: CFO of the HOCHDORF Group since 1 May 1 2023. Training/Degree: Business Economist HWV. Professional background: 1997 to 2004 various management positions in finance and controlling at ABB Switzerland, ABB Thailand, and ABB subsidiaries (Micafil); 2005 to 2015 CFO Business Area Plastics Technology at WEIDPLAS (formerly WEIDMANN Plastics Technology) and later as CEO responsible for the implementation of the EXIT strategy with completion of the sale in May 2014; 2016 to 2019 Deputy Managing Director and Head of Automotive at SIKA Automotive AG, Romanshorn, and later as Business Director at SIKA India Ltd., SIKA Automotive & Global Industry; 2020 to 2023 CFO & Managing Director of the division and all companies in Germany at STADLER Germany, Berlin. Other activities: since 2016 founder and independent business consultant of Linked Concept Management GmbH; since 2016 member of the Board of Directors at Mäder und Partner AG, Zurich.

Lukas Hartmann, CIO

1983, Swiss citizen. Place of residence: Steinhausen, ZG. Position: CIO (Chief Innovation Officer) at the HOCHDORF Group since 1 April 2022. Training/degree: Master of Science in Food Sciences from the ETH Zurich and Master of Business Administration MBA from the University of St. Gallen (HSG). Professional background: 2009 to 2013 Project Lead in Research and Development at  Nestlé, Orbe, in the Product Technology Center in the area of Infant Cereal Nutrition, responsible for developing and implementing formulations and processes in various factories worldwide; 2013 to 2015 Process Engineer at Nestlé Suisse S.A., Konolfingen, responsible for developing, implementing and going live with a part of an investment project for producing powdered infant formula; 2016 member of an early start-up in the area of sustainable probiotic feed supplements; Business Development Manager, Root; 2017 to 2022 Head of Development for Infant Nutrition and since 2021 VP Innovation and R&D at the HOCHDORF Group.

Géza Somogyi, COO

1978, Hungarian citizen. Place of residence: Güttingen, TG. Position: COO of the HOCHDORF Group since 1 July 2020. Training/degree: Food science. Professional background: 2002 to 2013 Development Engineer and Head of Production at Mars Inc. Bokros (Hungary); 2015 to 2020 Head of Production at several plants with additional responsibility for the registration of German plants and formulations as a condition of market entry in China at Danone/Milupa, Fulda (Germany).

Contact/ Location
+41 41 914 65 65Contact form

Siedereistrasse 9
Postfach
CH-6281 Hochdorf

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