Fazer’s President and CEO Karsten Slotte leaves the company as he turns 60
During Karsten Slotte’s leadership, Fazer has grown successfully and strengthened its positions as one of the leading companies in its branch in the Nordic countries. A recruitment process has been initiated to find a successor for Slotte.
President and CEO of Fazer Group Karsten Slotte has announced that he will leave the company in 2013, the year he will turn 60. Slotte has worked at Fazer since 1997. He has been Group President since November 2007.
‘It is a privilege to work in a family-owned company. During the past few years, through co-operation with the management and personnel, we have successfully strengthened our brands and developed new product and service concepts for the benefit of our customers and consumers. Our growth has been profitable and we have conquered new markets. The company is in very good shape and now is the right time to hand the leadership over. During the years to come, I want to spend more time with my family and, at the same time, I will stay active in the business world through my work in different Boards of Directors’, Karsten Slotte sums it up.
A successful company
During the past five years, the company’s turnover has increased by over 30 per cent from some 1.2 billion euros in 2007 to nearly 1.6 billion euros in 2011. Fazer’s position is strong in all the company’s main markets. In Finland, Fazer is the market leader in all its businesses (bakery, confectionery and food services), in Russia it is the market leader in fresh bread and in the Nordic countries in both food services and fresh bread. Fazer has internationalized and currently, over 50 per cent of the company’s turnover comes from outside Finland. Fazer’s products are exported to over 40 countries.
Karl Fazer Milk Chocolate is Finland’s most valued brand. The Fazer brand comes second. Also Fazer’s other brands, such as Dumle, Geisha, Oululainen and Amica, are well known and valued in Finland and nearby regions.
2012 was a good year for Fazer. Fazer entered new markets: it has started biscuit production in Finland and purchased Svenska Försvarsrestauranger AB in Sweden, to name a few. The production capacity has been increased, for example, in Moscow. The first bakery shop in style of the Swedish Gateau, acquired by Fazer in 2011, and the first Fazer-branded personnel restaurant were opened in Finland.
‘On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to express our warm thanks to Karsten Slotte. During his leadership, the Group has further strengthened its positions on all main markets. The Board has great confidence in the Group’s management and Fazer’s development in the future’, says Chairman of Fazer’s Board of Directors Berndt Brunow.
Fazer’s Board of Directors has initiated recruitment for a new President and CEO. Karsten Slotte will continue in his current position till his successor takes over.
Additional information:
Ulrika Romantschuk, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Fazer Group, tel. +358 40 566 4246, ulrika.romantschuk@fazer.com
Karsten Slotte’s CV can be found here: www.fazer.fi/kuvapankki "Media_Press/CVs"
Fazer Group
Fazer’s mission is to create taste sensations. The company offers healthy food and delicious bakery and confectionery products. Fazer has own operations in eight countries and export to more than 40 countries. The company’s success ever since its establishment in 1891 has been based on the best product and service quality, beloved brands and skilful people.
Fazer Group operates in two business areas. Fazer Food Services offers tasty food and tailor-made services through contract catering. Fazer Brands’ famous delicacies are tasty baked goods, chocolate products, biscuits, sugar confectionery and chewing gum. Consumers are also served in Fazer Cafés & Shops. Fazer Group’s turnover in 2011 was nearly 1.6 billion euros, and the company has over 15,000 employees.