As part of the new plan, Simon Halle-Smith, currently Head of Human Resources for Fragrances will become a member of the Executive Committee with responsibility for Global Human Resources.
Joe Fabbri, who is a member of the Executive Committee, will continue to be responsible for Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) and Sustainability and take the lead on projects supporting the Swiss firm’s strategic focus on excellence in execution at each step of the value chain.
"Creating a dedicated Executive Committee position for Human Resources reflects our commitment to our people, who are critical to our success,” says Gilles Andrier, CEO of Givaudan.
"We also recognise that customers and many other stakeholders have rising expectations regarding a Company's responsibility to sustainability, the environment, and health and safety."
Plans and experience
UK national Halle-Smith has been with the company for 8 years, joining initially as European Human Resources Director, before being appointed Head of Human Resources for the Fragrance Division in 2009.
As Head of Global Human Resources and a member of the Givaudan Executive Committee, Givaudan says that Simon will focus on further strengthening the Company's attractiveness as an employer of choice, and ensuring it addresses company-wide talent needs, especially in high-growth markets.
Joe Fabbri is a Canadian national who joined the Givaudan Executive Committee in 2008 as Head of Global Human Resources and Sustainability.
Since 2010, he has also assumed the responsibility for Environment, Health and Safety. He joined the company itself in 1989 and held positions of increasing responsibility in operations, before leading the Quest integration, which Halle-Smith was also part of, in 2007.
Quest International was a major producer of flavours and fragrances before Givaudan, which was a rival at the time, acquired it in March 2007.
Givaudan's first-half net profit reported last month rose more than 1%, beating analysts' forecasts, although sales at its fragrance division, which is heavily exposed to demand for luxury goods, fell 1.1%.