There are plenty of changes coming for Lindt & Sprüngli AG.

The group recently announced new appointments to its group management, including a change in ceo and the transfer of many responsibilities to a younger generation of experienced executives within the group. The company hopes to ensure that continuity will play an important role by bringing up a younger generation of managers with strong records.

Ernst Tanner, the current group ceo, will hand over his responsibilities to Dieter Weisskopf, the long-standing group cfo. Tanner's transition will take place Oct. 1, when he will continue to play an active role as executive chairman, focusing on the long-term strategy of the group and aiding Lindt & Sprüngli with experience.

As  the current group cfo and incoming ceo, Weisskopf has had more than 22 years of experience as a member of group management. He joined Lindt & Sprüngli in 1995 as head of finance, human resources and legal and purchasing. Since 2004, he has also been responsible for manufacturing and sustainability.

In January 2017, the group will also see three new members join group management.

Martin Hug, cfo of Ghirardelli, will take over for Weisskopf as group cfo. Hug joined Lindt & Sprüngli in 2004 as a senior corporate controller and has been the cfo of Ghirardelli since 2011.

Alain Germiquet, ceo at Lindt & Sprüngli France, will assume responsibilities for several countries as well as international sales. Germiquet has been with the group since 2007, first as ceo of Lindt & Sprüngli U.K. before moving to his current position in 2009.

Guido Steiner will continue to be in charge of group operations. Steiner began his career at Lindt & Sprüngli in 1992 as group production planning manager. He served as v.p. of operations from 1998 to 2003 at the Lindt & Sprüngli subsidiary in Stratham, N.H., before returning to the group's headquarters to serve as v.p. of operations in 2003.

All group management members will report directly to the ceo.

Alongside these new appointments, Uwe Sommer, head of international marketing/sales and global retail, will resign from group management at the end of April 2017 to take up an early retirement. His responsibilities will be handed over to Germiquet and Rolf Fallegger, international marketing and global retail.

Lindt & Sprüngli's board of directors expressed congratulations to the new members on their appointments and wished group management continued success. It also thanked Sommer for his contributions to the company's growth and success over the past 23 years.