HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY OF THE YEAR

Geneva, Switzerland, September 28 2015 – Firmenich is proud to announce that Dr. Bérangère Magarinos-Ruchat, Vice President Sustainability Partnerships at Firmenich, received this year’s Ethical Corporation’s “Head of Sustainability of the Year” award at its annual Responsible Business Awards ceremony in London, on Friday September 25th.

Firmenich CEO Gilbert Ghostine said: “Firmenich has a 120 year heritage of leading its business responsibly and with the highest ethical standards. Bérangère’s unwavering commitment to sustainability has touched the lives of countless people around the world. She deserves this honor and we are very proud of her.”

“Firmenich is a family-owned company with strong values and publically committed to sustainable development for more than 25 years”, added David Shipman, Group Vice President, Corporate Compliance and Sustainability. “The company has been a thought leader in all pillars of sustainability, not only reducing its environmental footprint but also generating positive social impact in areas ranging from hygiene and sanitation to health and nutrition”.

Upon receiving the award, Dr. Magarinos-Ruchat said: “I truly believe in inclusive growth; in embedding sustainability into a company’s core business. Throughout my career, I have worked with public and private organizations who understand that sustainability is not a trend, but a way to do business with a long-term focus. I am proud to share this award with my 6,500 colleagues, as well as the Firmenich customers who are making a difference in the world every day.”

Dr. Magarinos-Ruchat joined the United Nations System Staff College in 1998 where she led the Partners in Action Program working in more than 20 countries. In 2004 she joined the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, where she was the Director of Partnerships. In that position she created the GAIN Business Alliance, a global network of Food and Beverage companies interested in nutrition issues. She joined Firmenich in 2010 where she leads Sustainability Partnerships. Dr. Magarinos-Ruchat has a PhD in International Relations from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, New York, as well as a postgraduate in Public Private Partnership Management from Cambridge University and a postgraduate in Social Innovation from Stanford. She serves as the Chair of the Swiss Chapter of the United Nations Global Compact Network and sits on the Investment Committee of the Livelihood Fund as well as the Steering Committee of the Toilet Board Coalition.

Recognized as a thought-leader in Sustainability, Firmenich ranked among the top 121 global organizations in the CDP Supplier Climate Performance Leadership Index in 2014; was the proud recipient of the international Robert W. Campbell Award in 2012, the highest and most prestigious global safety award; and was named “Best Private Company” by Ethical Corporation in 2011. Also, in the past year, Firmenich co-authored two sustainability case studies with the Wharton School of Business.

Dr. Bérangère Magarinos-Ruchat, Vice President Sustainability Partnerships at Firmenich