Matthias Riehle

As Chairman and CEO of Nestlé Waters Poland, he refined the company’s
business strategy by sustainably improving the profitability to 20% through
sales and efficiency initiatives. In Asia, as CEO of Vietnam and Vice-President
of Nestlé Waters Asian Countries, revenue tripled while maintaining high
double-digit profitability and managing a joint venture with the Vietnamese
government. His leadership extended across markets in Korea, Thailand,
Indonesia, Myanmar , Malaysia, Cambodia, and the Philippines. As Chairman
and CEO of Greater China and Korea, he oversaw operations generating
$370M in sales across five factories, successfully revitalising Nestlé Waters in
China through innovative investments that enabled a successful sale to the
leading brewery in the region. His leadership courage showed in making
difficult decisions, exemplified by the strategic closure of operations in Korea. 

As a recognised leader in the global FMCG sector, Matthias Riehle is a seasoned
Chairman, CEO, and Board member who has transformed operations across
Greater China, Southeast Asia, Korea, Vietnam, Europe, and the MENA region.
His international experience spans key business centres including Dubai,
Shanghai, Saigon, Warsaw, Frankfurt, and Paris, providing comprehensive global
oversight across Asia, Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.

A dynamic and distinguished career at Nestlé Waters demonstrates his
commitment to customer-focused strategies and environmental stewardship.
Matthias spearheaded a comprehensive restructuring at Nestlé Waters MENA
that drove exceptional performance across operations spanning nine countries,
encompassing three strategic joint ventures and 17 manufacturing facilities,
employing more than 7,500 people and generating annual revenues exceeding
$450 million.
Through innovative Route to Market and CRM reengineering initiatives,
Matthias achieved visibility of one million direct customers in the Middle East,
while skillfully navigating M&A, divestitures, and transformation projects.
Major achievements included implementing ERP solutions within 6-9 months,
expanding through strategic acquisition projects and negotiating JV Partner
agreements successfully.

CAREER JOURNEY
Starting as a cash van driver and merchandiser, Matthias Riehle embraced
every opportunity to learn the FMCG business from the ground up. His talent
for innovation shone through as Marketing Director for Nescafé Germany,
leading the launch of RTD coffee products.
His journey included the successful integration of S.Pellegrino across European
markets while coordinating strategy across eight countries.
BOARD

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Matthias brings exceptional expertise in ESG implementation, circular
economy principles and sustainable packaging solutions to boards navigating
environmental challenges. His commercial acumen and comprehensive
understanding of global sustainability frameworks enable successful
environmental transformation while delivering strong business performance.
He has developed innovative solutions for plastic reduction in the beverage
industry and implemented net zero goals and renewable water initiatives. His
practical experience addressing water scarcity challenges provides valuable
insights when engaging with environmentalists and regulatory bodies.

LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY & IMPACT
His leadership approach emphasises trust-building and entrepreneurial thinking
while maintaining strong governance principles. His boardroom presence is
distinguished by fostering constructive dialogue and applying a questioning
mindset that elevates decision-making quality with an innate ability to read and
understand both people and situations. He is adept at combining strategic vision
with practical implementation. At the heart of this leadership style lies a belief
in the transformative power of positive workplace culture. Matthias’ track record
demonstrates consistent success in developing high-performing teams, with
numerous former team members progressing to significant leadership roles.

THE NEXT CHAPTER
From Dubai’s strategic global hub, Matthias brings extensive board experience
across various business structures and scales, from family-owned businesses to
multinational corporations. He seeks board director roles where expertise in
sustainability, governance, and business transformation can add significant
value. The focus is on companies pursuing sustainable growth, particularly
family-owned businesses navigating transformation.