THE NATURE OF OUR BUSINESS – STABLE GROWTH - Symrise

As a rule, our flavor, fragrance and cosmetic ingredients are key
functional components of our customers’ end products and influence
their taste, smell or cosmetic benefits. In many cases, the
recipes and effects of our products are decisive for consumers’
purchasing decisions. At the same time, our products often account
for only a small percentage of the total costs of the end
product. The research and development (R&D) department is supplemented
by a wide-reaching network of research institutes and
scientific facilities. Given the big differences in sensory preferences
in Europe, Asia and North America, comprehensive consumer
research is indispensable for Symrise. In addition to
classical R&D activities, consumer research is one of the main
foundations for developing marketable products that are successful
in the long term and that meet the various needs of consumers
in different parts of the world.
Symrise develops and produces more than 30,000 products from
around 10,000 raw materials on five continents. We sell these
products in some 160 countries. We are present in mature markets
in Western Europe, the United States and parts of Asia, as well as
in the emerging markets of Asia, South America, Africa, the Middle
East and Eastern Europe. Our regional strategy goal is a positioning
with important multinational customers on the one hand,
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
Region EAME
North America
South America
Asia/Pacific
Flavor & Nutrition
Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram
Annual Report 2008 Symrise AG 55
F&E
Supply Chain
Corporate Center
Dr. Gerold Linzbach/Dominique Yates
and in regional markets with particularly good growth opportunities
on the other. In 2008, we generated more than 39% of our sales in
rapidly growing emerging markets.
Organization of the Symrise Group
As a German stock corporation Symrise has a dual management
and supervisory structure consisting of an Executive Board
and a Supervisory Board. The Executive Board has four members:
Dr. Gerold Linzbach (CEO), Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram (Head of
Flavor & Nutrition), Achim Daub (Head of Scent & Care) and
Dominique Yates (CFO).
Details on cooperation between the Executive and Supervisory
Boards as well as on corporate governance at Symrise can be
found in the Report of the Supervisory Board and the Corporate
Governance Report in this annual report.
With sites in more than 35 countries, Symrise has a global as well
as a regional presence in all important markets.
The Group consists of a Corporate Center and the two divisions
Scent & Care and Flavor & Nutrition. The Corporate Center bundles
classical central functions such as corporate strategy,
Region EAME
North America
South America
Asia/Pacific
Scent & Care
Achim Daub
F&E
Supply Chain
Group Management
Report