Rick Laberge Email Address

Chief Operating Officer

HARIBO is a family company which is now run by the third generation. The founder, Hans Riegel Snr., registered HARIBO GmbH & Co. KG in the Bonn commercial register on 13th December 1920. HARIBO is an acronym for HAns RIegel BOnn. The product, the "dancing bear," created by the founder, Hans Riegel Snr., has become HARIBO's most famous product and is known worldwide as the 'Goldbr' = Gold Bear. Today, HARIBO is the world market leader in the fruit gum and liquorice segment. Worldwide, 100 million GOLD BEARS alone are produced daily. The continuous brand management with the highest quality-control and consumer confidence is largely responsible for the success story at our 16 production facilities throughout Europe. We now employ nearly 7,000 people world-wide.

General Manager and Senior Sales Executive with a reputation for turning around troubled businesses or starting up new consumer products brands, general management and management board experience at Procter and Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Mars and HARIBO. Consistently delivers financial and market share growth through strategic focus, brand-building mindset, sales execution and a passionate focus on cultivating talent. An authentic leader with extensive experience leading cross functional groups and developing high performance teams. Able to quickly digest complex business situations and develop / execute a compelling profitable growth strategy. Selected Career Hihglights: • Startup: In 2 different leadership roles created start up new brands. Developed an organization that turned SPLENDA® into a household brand, retail sales in excess of $500 million. Sales leader that established the Pepcid AC® brand from RX to OTC, creating a $350 million franchise, #1 in category. • Turnaround: As the General Manager returned the business unit to growth after 5 years of top and bottom line declines. Improved market share and trade attitude survey results on a global basis. Developed the OTC re-launch strategy and execution plan post the FDA Consent Decree. • Transformation: Played leadership role in the Pfizer / Johnson & Johnson Consumer sales integration. Including the route to market strategy development and all aspects of implementation. Most recently at Mars, led dramatic reorganization and simplification effort that saved $50 million and drove $150 million of growth.