The Board appoints the Vice-Chairman. It meets as often as business requires, but at least four times per fiscal year. The meetings usually take place in Zurich. If possible, the Board of Directors meets once per year at one of the Group sites and combines this meeting with a visit to the local operations. Typically, Board meetings last one full day. 

During fiscal year 2023/24, the Board convened six regular meetings and one extraordinary meeting. Three meetings were held by way of a video conference without physical attendance. The average attendance rate at the meetings of the Board of Directors was approximately 99% and varied between 90% and 100% for the individual members. The Chairman invites the members of the Board to the meetings in writing, indicating the agenda and the motions for resolution. The invitations are sent out at least ten business days prior to the meeting. Each member of the Board can request that the Chairman calls for a meeting without undue delay. In addition to the materials for Board meetings, the members of the Board receive monthly financial reports. At the request of a member of the Board, members of the Executive Committee and the Management can be invited to attend Board meetings. The Board can determine that other third parties, for example external consultants, may attend part or all of the meetings. In the fiscal year under review, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and, depending on the agenda items, other members of the Executive Committee and Management of the Company were present at Board meetings and/or Committee meetings. Resolutions are adopted by a simple majority of the members of the Board being present. Resolutions can also be adopted by unanimous circular decision. 

Resolutions adopted at Board meetings are documented through written minutes. The Board is regularly informed of the course of business of the Company and the Group and about material events affecting the Company and the Group by the Chief Executive Officer. At meetings of the Board, every Board member may request information concerning all matters pertaining to the Company and the Group. Outside of meetings, any request for information by a member of the Board shall be submitted to the Chairman.

The Board has formed the following Committees:

Audit, Finance, Risk, Quality & Compliance Committee

Markus R. Neuhaus (Chairman), Nicolas Jacobs, Thomas Intrator and Tim Minges​

The role of the Audit, Finance, Risk, Quality & Compliance Committee (AFRQCC) is to assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities and make recommendations regarding the Group’s accounting policies, financial reporting, internal controls, legal and regulatory compliance, internal audit and quality management. The Board has not delegated any decision-making power to the AFRQCC. In addition, the AFRQCC reviews the basic risk management principles and guidelines, the hedging and financing strategies as well as the bases upon which the Board determines risk tolerance levels and limits for the Company's raw material exposure. For details on the financial risk management, see Note 3.7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

The AFRQCC further assists the Board in overseeing the external auditors. The AFRQCC recommends the external auditors for election, reviews the quality of their work, their qualifications and independence, the audit fees, the external audit coverage, the reporting to the Board and the AFRQCC, and assesses the additional non-audit services as well as the annual financial statements and the notes thereto. The external auditors attended four out of six meetings of the AFRQCC in fiscal year 2023/24; furthermore, the Chairman of the AFRQCC met the lead external auditor three times outside of AFRQCC meetings. The Company’s Group Internal Audit Department reports to the Chairman of the AFRQCC. The AFRQCC reviews the performance of Group Internal Audit. The scope of Group Internal Audit encompasses the examination and evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of the organization’s risk management processes and the internal control system as well as compliance with laws, regulations, policies and procedures. Key findings are presented and reviewed in the AFRQCC meetings. The AFRQCC reviews and approves the annual plan. In the last fiscal year, the Group Internal Audit Department was supported on one project by third-party experts. Pursuant to the Group’s “Compliance Committee and Whistleblowing Policy”, the Compliance Committee, chaired by the Group Compliance Officer, evaluates and, as the case may be, investigates alleged violations of the Code of Conduct and the Group’s policies under the supervision of the Chairman of the AFRQCC. Group Compliance reports all pending cases to the AFRQCC on a regular basis. The AFRQCC meets as often as business requires but at least three times per fiscal year. 

The meetings usually take place in Zurich. In the last fiscal year, the Committee met six times, of which two times were by video conference. The attendance rate at the meetings of the AFRQCC was 100%. The meetings lasted two to three hours each..

The Board of Directors plays a crucial role in overseeing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy within our company. This oversight includes aligning the business and ESG strategy and ambitions, ensuring a long-term vision on the development of our business value, and actively identifying and managing actual and forward-looking risks. The Board ensures that adherence to Regulations and sustainability topics and matters are fully integrated into the company's purpose, strategy, decision-making, risk management, and accountability reporting.

The AFRQC Committee, a sub-committee of the Board of Directors, reviews our internal system controls, risks, quality, and the reliability of our external reporting. It also oversees the implementation of ESG processes, controls and robust reporting and the direct integration of ESG into the audit structure and the relationship with investor relations.

Nomination & Compensation Committee

Fernando Aguirre (Chairman), Antoine de Saint-Affrique, Mauricio Graber and Yen Yen Tan

The Company’s Nomination and Compensation Committee (NCC) is elected by the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and advises the Board in determining and verifying the compensation strategy and regulations of the Group as well as in preparing the motions for the attention of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders regarding the compensation of the Board and the Executive Committee. It also assists the Board in defining and monitoring the performance criteria, and it makes recommendations to the Board with respect to the selection, nomination, compensation, evaluation, and, when necessary, the replacement of key executives. The Board has not delegated any decision-making power to the NCC. The NCC establishes, jointly with the Chief Executive Officer, a general succession planning and development policy. The NCC reviews and recommends the remuneration to be paid to members of the Board and the Executive Committee. 

The NCC also ensures a transparent Board and Executive Committee nomination process and evaluates potential conflicts of interest involving Management and members of the Board. The NCC monitors developments in the regulatory framework for compensation of the top Management and the Board on an ongoing basis and prepares recommendations for the respective adaptations of the Group’s compensation system. The NCC meets as often as business requires but at least three times per fiscal year. The meetings usually take place in Zurich. Last year, the NCC met five times, of which two times by video conference. The attendance rate at the meetings of the NCC was 100%. The meetings lasted two hours each.