Gerolsteiner CEO to step down as company appoints new CMO

German mineral water producer Gerolsteiner is set for a major leadership transition in 2026, with CEO Roel Annega announcing his departure and the company confirming the appointment of Sabine Kloos as its new chief marketing officer.

Gerolsteiner said Annega will leave the business at the end of August for personal reasons, bringing an end to a seven‑year tenure marked by strong growth and cultural transformation.

“We very much regret that Annega is leaving us after a total of seven very successful years,” said advisory board chairman Stefan Schmitz, praising the CEO’s “significant contribution to the dynamism and development of the company and its corporate culture”.

Annega, who has spent 28 years working abroad, said the time had come to return to the Netherlands and focus on family and personal projects. “I am proud of what we have achieved together and am convinced that there are still many new chapters to come in the company’s successful journey,” he said. “I have taken this decision for entirely personal reasons… I am very proud and grateful to have been a small part of the Gerolsteiner journey.”

Gerolsteiner has not yet named a successor but said the transition has been carefully planned to ensure continuity. “We are confident that Gerolsteiner is excellently positioned for the future and that the very positive development of recent years will continue,” Schmitz added.

The leadership change comes as the company strengthens its marketing organisation with the appointment of Sabine Kloos as chief marketing officer, effective 12 January 2026. Kloos joins from BP Europa SE, where she led marketing for Aral Deutschland, and brings extensive FMCG experience from roles at Mars, Kraft, Coca‑Cola and Bahlsen.

Kloos succeeds Marcus Macioszek, who left the company in October after more than two decades. Gerolsteiner said her arrival marks a renewed focus on brand strategy, innovation and consumer engagement as the company enters the new year.

“We are very pleased to have gained a proven marketing expert for this important position,” Annega said in the company’s announcement of her appointment. He emphasised that Gerolsteiner’s strong brand, built on quality, sustainability and innovation, will continue to be a central pillar of its strategy under new marketing leadership.