We are pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas Lesaffre as the new General Manager of Fermentis, effective 1 April 2026.
Under Thomas Lesaffre’s leadership, we will continue to grow while strengthening our position as a trusted partner in the market and innovator in fermentation and characterization solutions for beer, wine, spirits, cider, coffee, and other beverages.
Thomas Lesaffre will report to Brice-Audren Riché, CEO of Lesaffre, and continue to serve as a member of the Lesaffre Executive Committee. He succeeds Stéphane Meulemans, who led Fermentis for 12 years during a period of significant growth and expansion for the business unit.
“I strongly believe that the renowned expertise of Fermentis and its talented team is a powerful asset in strengthening our position as an essential partner in the global beverage industry,” says Thomas Lesaffre. “As markets grow more dynamic and demanding, it is our technical excellence, cutting-edge research and development, and innovative spirit that will set us apart, not only in the alcoholic beverage sector but also in pioneering advancements in non-alcoholic beverages. I am deeply committed to working with and supporting our clients worldwide in their pursuit of excellence, while tirelessly advancing Fermentis’ mission to become the obvious choice for beverage signature.”
Thomas Lesaffre is a graduate of the University of Technology de Compiègne (UTC) and holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD business school. He started his career at Accenture, working as a consultant for five years, before joining Lesaffre in 2005 as a production engineer at Lesaffre Turkey. He then served as a production manager for two years at Lesaffre’s Spanish subsidiary. Later, he was appointed industrial director of Lesaffre Argentina until 2013 and served as General Manager of Lesaffre Italy from 2013 to 2017. He subsequently became Marketing Director for Baking Ingredients within Marketing for Baking (M4B), the department that supports Lesaffre’s baking activities through the “Baking with Lesaffre” program, before being appointed M4B Director and joining the Executive Committee in 2022.
We are thrilled to welcome Thomas Lesaffre as our new General Manager. Under his leadership, we look forward to strengthening our position as a trusted partner and innovative leader in fermentation solutions for the global beverage industry. This is only possible thanks to the incredible support and collaboration of our valued partners and customers. We are grateful for your trust, and we’re committed to building on our strong foundation to deliver even greater value and innovation together.