Changes to the SARIA Executive Board

SARIA has announced planned changes to its Executive Board that will come into effect in 2026.
Board member Lars Krause-Kjær will step down from the SARIA Executive Board effective June 30, 2026. From July 1, 2026, he will continue as Managing Director at SARIA International, remain a member of the Ingredients & Energy division’s leadership team, and be responsible for activities in Scandinavia and the UK, as well as Global Expansion and International Relations.

This transition marks the end of a successful chapter in the Executive Board, during which he significantly shaped the company’s strategic development and international growth. Lars Krause-Kjær joined SARIA in 2012 through the joint venture with the Danish Daka Group, where he served as Managing Director. In May 2015, he was appointed to the SARIA Executive Board, initially overseeing the Nordics, Central and Eastern Europe, and the biodiesel business unit ecoMotion, as well as other strategic segments over time.

“I have really enjoyed being part of SARIA’s journey as a member of the Executive Board over this past decade,” Lars Krause-Kjær says. “It has been exciting to witness the growth and progress we all made together. Now that I am turning 60, this chapter is coming to a natural close, and I am glad that I get to continue on this journey for a little while longer with my other responsibilities.“

Dr. Martin Rethmann, Chairman of the SARIA Supervisory Board, emphasizes: “Lars has been a cornerstone of SARIA’s evolution over many years. With his international outlook, entrepreneurial mindset and strong personal connections across the industry, he has opened many doors to new opportunities for the Group. We are grateful for his dedication and the positive, Danish spirit he has brought to the Executive Board, and very pleased that he will continue to contribute his experience to SARIA going forward.”

In addition, Board member Nicolas Rottmann will also step down from the Executive Board at the end of June.
Nicolas Rottmann initially joined SARIA in 2003, before becoming managing director of several subsidiaries of the Rhenus Group, a sister company of SARIA, between 2008 and 2020. In January 2020 he returned to SARIA as a member of the Executive Board. As part of his role at SARIA, he has been responsible for the Biofuels business unit overseeing the joint venture with TotalEnergies, a partnership poised to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The partnership not only marks the largest single investment in the history of the Group but is also a pivotal element in the further development of SARIA’s value chain.

Nicolas Rottmann will continue to run the ongoing SAF project together with TotalEnergies until December, focusing particularly on the construction of the refinery in Grandpuits to ensure a successful production ramp-up for sustainable aviation fuel, which is planned to start in the fall.

“After 25 years with the RETHMANN Group and now seven years on the SARIA Executive Board, I feel the time is right to pass the baton. It has been a privilege to play such a key role in building this organization and to be responsible for one of the biggest projects in the Group. With production starting in Grandpuits, we are reaching the biggest milestone yet, which also feels like a natural closing point for me. I look forward to broadening my perspective further and contributing my experience in a different environment,” says Nicolas Rottmann on the occasion.

Martin Rethmann extends his profound thanks: “I have greatly valued working alongside Nico over all those years. What started as a professional collaboration has become something far beyond that – a relationship built on trust, mutual respect, and genuine appreciation. Nico has shaped Rhenus and SARIA in a remarkable way. I sincerely thank him for his contribution, his loyalty, and his friendship. He leaves with my deepest respect and gratitude, and my best wishes for his personal and professional future.”

As of July 1, 2026, the SARIA Executive Board will consist of the two co-CEOs, Tim Schwencke and Harald van Boxtel, and Group CFO Egbert Bernsmeister.

About SARIA
SARIA is a German family-owned company with operations around the globe. Committed to the principles of the circular economy, the Group’s activities are centered around converting products of animal origin and other organic materials into highly valuable and sustainable ingredients for the food, animal feed, pet food, pharmaceutical, and energy sectors. “Together towards a sustainable world and healthier living” is the overarching purpose of all of SARIA’s activities, and we pursue that vision together with our employees and business partners in order to be the best partner for sustainable solutions.