Crafting the future of scent
A CEO conversation
Under the leadership of Gilles Andrier for the past 20 years, Givaudan has transformed from a traditional fragrance and flavour manufacturer into a leader in sustainable innovation.
Text: Melanie Loos | Photography: Manuel Braun for Givaudan
Guided by Andrier’s managerial philosophy, which champions curiosity and challenges norms, Givaudan’s journey is marked by technological advancements and sustainable practices. Innovation, described by Andrier as the ‘complexity of many ideas’, powers Givaudan’s leadership in competitive markets, from nutrition-enhancing botanicals to sustainable colours. With over 50% of ingredients responsibly sourced, Givaudan is aiming to achieve 100% sustainability by 2030, firmly positioning itself at the forefront of innovation and expansion.
«I’m very much driven by curiosity and trying to understand things. This is where innovation starts. It’s all about creating an environment where inventions emerge.»
Gilles AndrierCEO of GivaudanAs an engineering student in the 1980s, Gilles Andrier shaped his own windsurfing boards – a testament to his relentless pursuit of understanding the world around him and his desire to break conventional boundaries. Today, as Givaudan’s CEO for over 20 years, Andrier navigates the complex fragrance and flavour industry with the same passion for innovation that guided him in his youth. “I’m very much driven by curiosity and trying to understand things,” Andrier reflects. “This is where innovation starts. It’s all about creating an environment where inventions emerge.”
Founded in 1895 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Givaudan has a long-standing history in transforming fragrance and flavour experiences, serving as the silent architect behind many leading smells and tastes that characterise consumer products across the world. While the core fundamentals of its business model remain unchanged – focused on making consumers happier and healthier through appealing tastes and scents – Givaudan has continually adapted to changing customer needs.
Gilles Andrier asserts that besides making the world taste and smell better, Givaudan aims to enhance consumer happiness and health by evolving its scope beyond traditional fragrances and flavours, emphasising the mission that propels the company into new dimensions of innovation.
As sustainability becomes increasingly crucial within the chemical sector, Givaudan has proactively shifted towards natural ingredients, addressing consumer concerns over artificial additives in processed foods and personal care products. The company has invested significantly in acquiring smaller competitors, enhancing its offerings to align with market trends. Andrier notes “We enrich the palette of perfumes and flavours using new technologies, like encapsulation systems to deliver a fragrance on fabric”.
Five questions
What are you particularly proud of at Givaudan?
Gilles Andrier: I’m most proud of our company’s culture. It’s something I inherited when I became CEO and have nurtured ever since. While Givaudan is undoubtedly about performance and a passion for what we do, what sets us apart is our caring culture – it’s about heart and soul. We say what we do and do what we say, which resonates deeply with our employees, clients and investors.
What’s the secret to staying competitive in your industry?
Gilles Andrier: The key lies in extensive research and innovation. We’re committed to innovation in order to differentiate our brand from competitors by focusing on what our clients love. This fundamental understanding forms the backbone of our business model.
Has innovation been the cornerstone of Givaudan’s success?
Gilles Andrier: Absolutely, but it isn’t just about one single innovation. There isn’t a magic bullet, our success stems from a complex tapestry of continuous investment and focus on innovation. It’s ingrained in our business model, revolving around the critical differentiator of taste and smell, allowing everyone to have their own unique signature.
How does Givaudan maintain its innovative edge?
Gilles Andrier: Innovation directly correlates with profitability and value through uniqueness. Our success isn’t only tied to industry essence but also to our commitment to live up to these attributes. Compared to some competitors, our growth and profitability are significantly higher because we’ve remained focused on these core aspects.
How do you envision the future of Givaudan?
Gilles Andrier: Growth is the mother of everything; it’s the lifeline of our company and drives everything, from innovation to employee pride. Without growth, there’s a dead end. At the same time, we’re committed to conscious actions, especially in reducing CO2 emissions, aligning our future with sustainability goals.
Gilles Andrier
Born in 1961 and of French nationality, he studied engineering and joined Givaudan in 1993 as fragrance division controller and assistant to the CEO. He held various leading positions across the company before becoming CEO in 2005. Andrier will retire from this position in March 2026, handing over to his successor Christian Stammkoetter. He is expected to then be appointed Chairman.
Under Andrier’s visionary leadership since 2005, Givaudan has flourished both financially and creatively. Gilles Andrier steered the company through strategic acquisitions – 22 in total – expanding its workforce threefold to 16,000 in more than 50 countries and elevating its market capitalisation to around CHF 32 billion. As the world’s largest flavour and fragrance manufacturer, the Swiss-based company produces diverse ingredients and scents used in a wide array of household, personal care and food products.
Financially, Givaudan with its two divisions Taste & Wellbeing and Fragrance & Beauty continues to grow. In 2024, Givaudan saw its sales increase by around 7% to CHF 7.4 billion, reaching almost 20% in regions like Asia Pacific, Latin America and Eastern Europe. In addition, the company raised its profits by more than 20% to over a billion for the first time last year.
“Our key driver is the liking of our clients,” Andrier emphasises, highlighting innovation’s critical role in satisfying customer needs and maintaining competitive advantage. The company spends almost 10% of its revenue on core research, highlighting that novel science and technology remain integral to its operations.
At the heart of Givaudan’s DNA is a culture of constant innovation – a collective force that drives both its people and products. “Innovation isn’t just about having one idea; it’s the complexity of many ideas,” Gilles Andrier explains, emphasising the continuous investment in diverse fields to maintain leadership and relevance in a fiercely competitive market. Central to Givaudan’s transformation is the adoption of biotechnology and AI, revolutionising flavour and fragrance development processes. From swapping chemical ingredients with sustainable alternatives, for example replacing synthetic dyes with natural ones in food products, innovation across various fields is pivotal. Givaudan’s strategic diversification beyond traditional domains is a testament to its adaptability and vision.
«Innovation isn’t just about having one idea; it’s the complexity of many ideas.»
Gilles AndrierCEO of GivaudanThrough strategic acquisitions, it has been gaining traction in nutrition-enhancing botanicals and sustainable colour solutions, for example. And the burgeoning pet food industry is seen as a promising opportunity for future growth. “Our business model has expanded by incorporating new industries, driving the revolution in how we experience health benefits through nature,” Andrier explains. Committed to sustainable practices, Givaudan sources over 50% of its ingredients from nature. The rest are chemical ingredients, with aspirations to responsibly source 100% of its natural ingredients by 2030.
As Givaudan enters its next strategic five-year cycle, its CEO emphasises the importance of growth, aligning it with innovation and ESG (environmental, social and governance) commitments. Despite current global uncertainties, the company’s presence across geographies and product categories ensures resilience, contributing to its strong financial record. “Looking ahead, we’re confident in our future,” Gilles Andrier concludes.
Givaudan Innovation Centre
Givaudan’s commitment to sustainability and innovation can be witnessed in the company’s innovation centre in Kemptthal, where novel molecules and natural ingredients are explored to create new scents and flavours. With a CHF 120 million investment – Givaudan’s largest in research to date – the research and product development site was opened in 2019 as part of the company’s global innovation ecosystem.
