By Timothy S. Donahue

Top Takeaways:

• Dual leadership structure launched: Hertz & Selck appointed Dr. Philipp Brüning as managing director alongside Bianca Hinrichsen.
• Growth drives change: The move follows workforce growth to more than 100 employees and the acquisition of a second Hamburg site.
• Focus on nicotine and tobacco innovation: The company said the new structure will support continued growth in its core tobacco, nicotine and vaping flavor businesses.

German flavor manufacturer Hertz & Selck has expanded its leadership team, appointing Dr. Philipp Brüning as managing director alongside Bianca Hinrichsen, as the company responds to rapid growth and rising operational complexity.

The appointment took effect on June 1 and established a dual leadership structure at the Hamburg-based company, which supplies flavor and aroma solutions to the tobacco, nicotine, beverage, and vaping industries.

The move comes as Hertz & Selck surpasses 100 employees and expands operations following the acquisition of a second site in Hamburg.

“The steady growth of our team from 38 to 105 staff over the past 13 years and the opening of our second site at Nordportbogen make it essential to share out management responsibilities,” Hinrichsen said. “In Dr. Philipp Brüning, I have gained a sparring partner on an equal footing. This arrangement enables us to implement innovative ideas effectively in practice whilst preserving our personal and appreciative corporate culture.”

The company said the new management structure is intended to support future growth while helping to maintain the quality standards that have made Hertz & Selck a longstanding supplier to international customers.

Under the new arrangement, Brüning will oversee laboratory operations and production activities, while Hinrichsen will focus on sales and product development. Both executives are trained food chemists, but they bring different professional backgrounds to the role.

Brüning joins the company from the Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) sector, where he previously held senior leadership roles overseeing laboratory analysis operations.

“Hertz & Selck is a fascinating company with a 95-year track record of success, highly advanced production technology, and an exceptionally high level of technical expertise within its team,” Brüning said. “During the first few weeks of getting to know one another, the focus will be on gaining a precise understanding of the established structures. In the long term, I will use my experience to reduce routine administrative and production-related tasks through targeted automation and digitalization, thereby freeing up time for specialist staff and making the company attractive to new talent.”

The company said that digitalization, analytics, and process automation will be among the strategic priorities of the expanded management team.

The company said it remains committed to its long-term strategy of producing customized premium flavors for tobacco, nicotine, beverage, and vaping applications while pursuing broader sustainability goals, including carbon neutrality by 2031.