Leiber announces new executive board

Germany’s Leiber GmbH has announced its strategic transformation in a press release. The aim is to strengthen the company's position further as an integral part of Asahi Group Foods in the international yeast market, demonstrating a clear commitment to innovation, growth, and regional responsibility, it says. The company also supplies pet food manufacturers.

On 1 September, a new management structure came into effect, creating the conditions for closer international cooperation and the development of new markets. The Leiber GmbH executive board will in the future consist of five leaders with complementary roles.

In addition to Gilbert Klausmeyer (CEO) as spokesperson and chairman of the management board, Oliver Beckmann (COO) and Masataka Yokoo, the newly appointed Co-CEO from Japan, will strengthen the management team. Yokoo will be responsible for strategy and business development in new markets. He will also strengthen the connection to the Asahi Group parent company. Beckmann will be responsible for technology and production at all Leiber Group locations.

The Executive Board has been strengthened by the addition of two experienced members who have played key roles for some time: Christian Stork-Bohmann (CBDO) is expanding his responsibilities to include research and development. Helge Jakubowski (CSO) is taking on marketing and communications management to further integrate market development, sales strategy and communications.

Bernd Schmidt-Ankum played a key role in shaping the company for many years before leaving the Executive Board on 30 April to join the Supervisory Board. Leiber would like to thank him for his outstanding work and commitment to the company.

‛With the new management structure, we are setting the course for the next phase of our development as an innovative, internationally networked yet regionally rooted partner in the global yeast market,’ explains Klausmeyer in the media release.

The realignment was executed to strengthen Leiber’s global competitiveness and lay the groundwork for the sustainable implementation of the joint growth strategy with the Asahi Group, all the while maintaining a clear focus on independence and stability at the German location.