BASEL (NNA) – The CEO of the Swiss-based Weleda Group, Patrick Sirdey (63), has stepped down from this function and as chairman of the Group management, the company has reported.

According to Weleda, Sirdey retired at his own request on 13 January: “With this step he permits the operational management of the Group at the highest level to be entrusted to younger hands,” the company said. Sirdey will officially take his leave at the forthcoming Weleda AG annual general meeting on 1 June 2012. “On that occasion his great achievements during more than 30 years of service for the company will be suitably honoured,” Weleda said.

The administrative board has appointed Peter Braun, head of the Medicines Business Unit, as interim CEO until a final decision on the appointment of a new chief executive is made in early May, when the result will be announced by the administrative board.

Patrick Sirdey, whose contract runs out on 30 June 2012, will continue to look after the managements in Schwäbisch Gmünd (Germany), Huningue (France), Arlesheim (Switzerland) und Vienna (Austria) until 31 May 2012 as a member of Weleda Group management, the company said. He would further be at the disposal of the company until the end of 2012 in his capacity as chairman of the management at Weleda Huningue as well as for special tasks, and would thus maintain his links with Weleda.

Sirdey was only recently honoured by France with the National Order of Merit, the first time in the history of Weleda that an executive has been honoured in this way. (See NNA report of 12 December 2011).

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Item: 120207-01EN Date: 7 February 2012

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