Ernst Tanner, chairman of the board of directors of Lindt & Sprüngli, rules out resigning. In an interview with the NZZ am Sonntag, relayed on 25 October 2026 by the Keystone-ATS news agency, the 80-year-old chairman says he can help the chocolate maker from Kilchberg (ZH) get back on track, a few days after the departure of its chief executive.
Ernst Tanner wants to stay until Lindt has recovered
Ernst Tanner says he is convinced he can make an important contribution to the company's recovery. Once that goal is achieved, he wants to move on to another stage of his life. He does not set a date.
The chairman is aware of the debate about his age. "If the board of directors were to conclude that I no longer add value, I would leave immediately, but not simply because of my age," he says.
This stance responds to documented pressure. At the time of the departure of CEO Adalbert Lechner, announced earlier in the week, the bank Vontobel argued that the board of directors should also be put under review. Jean-Philippe Bertschy, an analyst at Zürcher Kantonalbank, for his part called for changes as early as next spring.
Adalbert Lechner's departure justified by planning
Ernst Tanner justifies the change of chief executive by the need to quickly regain planning certainty. According to him, Adalbert Lechner would have retired in about a year anyway.
The interim role goes to Dieter Weisskopf, the group's former chief executive and vice-chairman of the board of directors. For the permanent succession, external candidates will also be considered. According to Allnews, a new permanent head is hoped to arrive in the second quarter of next year; PME mentions the beginning of next summer. The name is not known.
Price increases, an acknowledged mistake
The chairman admits that Lindt underestimated customers' reaction to the sharp price increases. In Germany and Switzerland above all, the products have become too expensive for many consumers.
Market tests had nevertheless suggested that customers would accept significantly higher prices. That bet turned out to be a misjudgement in some countries. According to PME magazine, prices had risen by 40 to 50% across the whole range in recent years.
"It hurts me to see our products on promotion," Ernst Tanner admits. He nevertheless considers these campaigns necessary to signal price cuts to customers. In his view, a lasting price cut remains possible, but only once the price of cocoa has stabilised at a normal level. This is an intention, not an announcement with figures.
A growth target revised twice in 2026
The chairman's statements come in a difficult year for the group. The sales growth target has been lowered twice, according to the figures reported by 2clics when the chief executive's departure was announced.
| Point in time | Targeted sales growth |
|---|---|
| Start of 2026 | 6 to 8% |
| Before the end of the first quarter | 4 to 6% |
| Current range | stagnation to +2% |
For next year, Ernst Tanner sets one priority: returning to volume growth and gaining market share. It is a goal, not a result.
The weight of Lindt shares on the Swiss stock exchange
The Lindt & Sprüngli registered share is the most expensive in Switzerland. It had reached an all-time high of nearly 135,000 francs in the summer of 2025. It was trading at around 86,000 francs when the chief executive's departure was announced, having lost some 20,000 francs since the April general meeting, according to PME.
On the day of the announcement, the participation certificate fell 2.1% to 8,240 francs, the worst performer in the SLI index. The market therefore did not welcome the change of management.
Analysts' readings of what comes next diverge. Jefferies questions the cost of the promotional campaigns for margins. Matthias Geissbühler, chief investment officer at Raiffeisen, also expects margins to come under pressure, and notes that Dieter Weisskopf supported the previous strategy on the board.
What it means for jobs and customers in Switzerland
Ernst Tanner rules out job cuts across the group. Lindt currently employs around 15,000 people. The chairman believes the workforce should be larger within one to two years.
This statement sheds light on a question that had remained open. When the departure was announced, PME judged that the time had come to cut costs, without the sources specifying whether jobs would be affected.
For customers in Switzerland, the chairman acknowledges that prices have gone beyond what many are willing to pay. The current promotions are the direct consequence.
What we don't know yet
- The name of the future chief executive, whose arrival is only hoped for in the second quarter or the beginning of next summer.
- Whether the board of directors will review itself, as Vontobel and Zürcher Kantonalbank are calling for.
- The cost of the promotions for the group's margins.
- When the price of cocoa would allow a lasting price cut.
