Lesaffre Executive and Leadership Team

September, 2026

Leadership Overview

Lesaffre has 6 executives leading key functions including financial strategy, regional fiscal oversight, breadmaking operations, and human resources.

Driven by a commitment to fermentation excellence, Lesaffre designs, manufactures, and markets innovative solutions for baking, food taste, health care, and biotechnology to improve global nutrition and well-being.

Leadership Roles at Lesaffre

  • Chief Financial Officer - Allison Reese
  • Chief Financial Officer (Asia Pacific) - Emma Ji
  • Chief Financial Officer, NORAM - Jay Dubin
  • Chief Financial Officer, Lesaffre Turquie - Sezgin Gülsün
  • President, Lesaffre Greater (China) & General Manager, Breadmaking Business Unit - Jerome Vanachter
  • Directeur Des Ressources Humaines - Saka Mohammed
  • Allison Reese - Chief Financial Officer

    Allison Reese, the Chief Financial Officer at Lesaffre, directs global fiscal strategy and capital allocation. Overseeing the financial health of the entire organization, the Chief Financial Officer ensures alignment between long-term investment goals and the core fermentation business. This leadership role involves managing complex international reporting standards and optimizing liquidity across diverse biotechnology markets. By implementing rigorous cost-control measures, Allison Reese directly impacts the company's ability to scale manufacturing capabilities. The Chief Financial Officer maintains constant communication with the Board to provide transparency regarding revenue growth and operational efficiency. Through precise financial modeling, the Chief Financial Officer secures the resources necessary for sustained innovation in food taste and health care sectors. Ultimately, Reese strengthens the balance sheet to support the expansion of the global yeast portfolio while maintaining the stability of the family-owned group.

    Emma Ji - Chief Financial Officer (Asia Pacific)

    Emma Ji, the Chief Financial Officer (Asia Pacific) at Lesaffre, manages all fiscal operations across the rapidly growing Asia Pacific region. Overseeing regional budget planning and local market investments, the Chief Financial Officer (Asia Pacific) ensures that financial performance meets the specific demands of the baking and food taste sectors in this territory. This leadership role involves navigating complex regulatory environments and currency fluctuations to protect profit margins. By streamlining regional accounting processes, Emma Ji directly impacts the efficiency of local manufacturing units. The Chief Financial Officer (Asia Pacific) collaborates with global leadership to integrate regional data into the broader corporate strategy. Through strategic oversight of regional capital expenditures, the Chief Financial Officer (Asia Pacific) drives sustainable growth in emerging markets. Ultimately, Ji optimizes the financial infrastructure to support the company's mission of delivering high-quality fermentation solutions throughout the Asia Pacific region.
    Emma Ji

    Jay Dubin - Chief Financial Officer, NORAM

    Jay Dubin, the Chief Financial Officer, NORAM at Lesaffre, directs all financial planning and analysis for the North American market. Overseeing the fiscal health of regional production facilities, the Chief Financial Officer, NORAM ensures that operational costs remain aligned with the company's high standards for baking and biotechnology products. This leadership role involves managing regional tax compliance and optimizing supply chain investments to maximize profitability. By implementing advanced financial forecasting tools, Jay Dubin directly impacts the competitive positioning of the company within the North American food industry. The Chief Financial Officer, NORAM coordinates with global headquarters to ensure consistent reporting and strategic synergy. Through careful management of regional assets, the Chief Financial Officer, NORAM supports the scaling of health care and food taste solutions. Ultimately, Dubin secures the financial foundation required for continued market leadership and operational excellence across the North American continent.

    Sezgin Gülsün - Chief Financial Officer, Lesaffre Turquie

    Sezgin Gülsün, the Chief Financial Officer, Lesaffre Turquie at Lesaffre, manages the financial operations and strategic planning for the Turkish market. Overseeing local treasury functions and regional investment portfolios, the Chief Financial Officer, Lesaffre Turquie ensures that the business unit maintains robust growth in the competitive baking and fermentation sectors. This leadership role involves mitigating financial risks associated with local market volatility while driving operational efficiency. By optimizing local procurement budgets, Sezgin Gülsün directly impacts the profitability of the Turkish manufacturing operations. The Chief Financial Officer, Lesaffre Turquie collaborates with regional management to align local fiscal goals with the broader corporate mission. Through rigorous financial oversight, the Chief Financial Officer, Lesaffre Turquie supports the development of innovative food taste and health care solutions tailored to the region. Ultimately, Gülsün ensures the financial sustainability of the Turkish business unit within the global group.

    Jerome Vanachter - President, Lesaffre Greater (China) & General Manager, Breadmaking Business Unit

    Jerome Vanachter, the President, Lesaffre Greater (China) & General Manager, Breadmaking Business Unit at Lesaffre, directs the strategic expansion and operational performance of the breadmaking division within the Greater China region. Overseeing the integration of advanced fermentation technology into local production lines, the President, Lesaffre Greater (China) & General Manager, Breadmaking Business Unit ensures that the company meets the evolving demands of the Chinese food market. This leadership role involves managing cross-functional teams to drive innovation in baking solutions and food taste. By scaling manufacturing capacity, Jerome Vanachter directly impacts the company's market share in this critical region. The President, Lesaffre Greater (China) & General Manager, Breadmaking Business Unit coordinates with global R&D to bring cutting-edge biotechnology to local consumers. Through strategic market development, the President, Lesaffre Greater (China) & General Manager, Breadmaking Business Unit fosters long-term partnerships with regional food producers. Ultimately, Vanachter drives the growth of the breadmaking business unit across the Greater China territory.
    Jerome Vanachter

    Saka Mohammed - Directeur Des Ressources Humaines

    Saka Mohammed, the Directeur Des Ressources Humaines at Lesaffre, directs the global human capital strategy and organizational development initiatives. Overseeing talent acquisition, employee engagement, and leadership training, the Directeur Des Ressources Humaines ensures that the workforce remains aligned with the company's mission of innovation in fermentation and biotechnology. This leadership role involves fostering a culture of excellence across diverse international teams to support the company's global manufacturing footprint. By implementing comprehensive performance management systems, Saka Mohammed directly impacts the productivity and retention of the workforce. The Directeur Des Ressources Humaines collaborates with the C-suite to align human resource policies with long-term business objectives. Through strategic workforce planning, the Directeur Des Ressources Humaines supports the scaling of operations in both established and emerging markets. Ultimately, Mohammed builds the organizational capabilities necessary to sustain the company's position as a leader in the global food and health care industries.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Lesaffre Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Lesaffre?
    Lesaffre is led by Allison Reese (Chief Financial Officer), along with executives such as Emma Ji (Chief Financial Officer (Asia Pacific)) and Jay Dubin (Chief Financial Officer, NORAM).
    Who is part of Lesaffre’s executive team?
    The executive team of Lesaffre includes leaders such as Allison Reese (Chief Financial Officer), Emma Ji (Chief Financial Officer (Asia Pacific)), Jay Dubin (Chief Financial Officer, NORAM) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Lesaffre have?
    Lesaffre has 6 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Lesaffre’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Lesaffre includes roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Financial Officer (Asia Pacific), Chief Financial Officer, NORAM, Chief Financial Officer, Lesaffre Turquie, President, Lesaffre Greater (China) & General Manager, Breadmaking Business Unit.