Oterra has named Arnd Kaldowski as chair of its board of directors, effective at the company’s next annual general meeting. He succeeds Cees de Jong, who will remain on the board.

De Jong has served as chair for the past four years, overseeing Oterra’s transition to an independent company and supporting its strategic and cultural development. During his tenure, the company more than doubled its revenue—from €220 million to over €450 million—and increased EBITDA from €36 million to nearly €70 million. Oterra’s workforce also grew from 580 to more than 1,300 employees.

He played a key role in expanding backward integration through acquisitions, advancing biotech innovation via partnerships, and investing in the U.S. market to support future growth.

Kaldowski brings operational experience and U.S. market expertise to the role. He most recently served as CEO of Sonova and previously held senior leadership positions at Danaher, Siemens Medical, and Boston Consulting Group. He is expected to support Oterra’s efforts to expand in the U.S., where demand for natural ingredients is rising amid increased regulatory scrutiny.

The leadership transition comes as Oterra reports strong financial performance in FY25, including nearly 8% organic sales growth and improved margins, driven by demand in Europe. The company anticipates continued growth in FY26, supported by its new innovation and production hub in WI and the launch of new products such as Jagua Blue, Arctic Blue, and Simply Brown.

“It has been a privilege to help shape Oterra’s journey from its carve-out to the global leader it is today. I am proud of what we have achieved together—from building a strong culture to doubling the company’s size—and I look forward to supporting Oterra’s continued success as a board member,” says de Jong.

“Oterra has achieved impressive growth under Cees’ leadership, and I am honored to take on the role of chair at such an exciting time. With the U.S. market opportunity ahead of us, I believe Oterra is uniquely positioned to lead the natural colors industry into its next chapter,” says Kaldowski.

“On behalf of the management team, I would like to thank Cees for his outstanding contributions and guidance over the past years. I also warmly welcome Arnd as our new chair and look forward to our collaboration. With our strong financial momentum and an unprecedented expansion opportunity ahead of us, Oterra is entering its next stage of growth with confidence,” says Martin Sonntag, CEO of Oterra.

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