Barry Callebaut COO appointment overview
- Barry Callebaut appoints Thomas Gaengler as COO from September 2026
- Gaengler joins from Mondelēz with extensive supply chain leadership
- The appointment restores Barry Callebaut’s standalone COO position
- Barry Callebaut has operated without a formal COO since 2023
- The move strengthens focus on operations, procurement and growth
Barry Callebaut Group has announced the appointment of Thomas Gaengler as chief operating officer (COO) and member of the Executive Committee, effective 1 September 2026.
Gaengler joins Barry Callebaut from confectionery and snacking giant, Mondelēz International, bringing with him more than 30 years of international leadership experience across supply chain, procurement and operations.
He holds a master’s degree in chemical and food engineering from the Technical University Brno, Czech Republic.
“I am delighted to welcome Thomas to Barry Callebaut,” says CEO Hein Schumacher. “Thomas will help lead the next phase of our journey, with a continued focus on customer-centricity, operational excellence, and strengthening our position as the world’s leading chocolate and cocoa solutions partner.”
He goes on to say that Gaengler’s global leadership experience in the sector and ability to build strong partnerships across the organisation will be invaluable to the business as it continues to execute its Focus for Growth strategy.
Barry Callebaut: Focus for Growth
Focus for Growth is Barry Callebaut's action plan to accelerate operational and financial performance.
The initiative is aimed at stabilising core operations and concentrating resources on a reduced number of priorities.
Barry Callebaut’s COO
Gaengler is said to be succeeding Clemens Woehrle. Though this is a little misleading as Woehrle never formally held the COO title.
Instead, Woehrle has held the role of chief customer supply and development officer, where he’s overseen many of the group’s supply chain and operational activities since joining in October 2023. This followed the company’s decision to remove the standalone COO role.
The appointment therefore marks the return of a dedicated COO role to executive leadership team, and suggests a shift in the chocolate maker’s approach to operations.
The move also emphasises the growing importance of supply chain resilience and operational efficiency at a time when cocoa prices remain elevated and manufacturers across the confectionery sector are under pressure to protect margins while maintaining customer service levels.
