Team size: 10

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

Our legal strategy is closely aligned with our broader business objectives. Every day, we strive to support the growth of the HARIBO group and bring childlike happiness to consumers. Especially during periods of instability or crises, we prioritise close collaboration with management and other stakeholders to effectively navigate challenges. Open communication and swift decision-making are essential, and I focus on maintaining a clear flow of information to ensure that all stakeholders are informed and aligned.

We foster strong integration between the Legal, Compliance, Audit, and Risk functions, known as “Integrated Governance.” This collaboration allows us to approach challenges holistically, considering various perspectives and implications. From my perspective, the term “resilience” is somewhat overused. Instead, we focus on anticipating developments as best we can, thereby reducing uncertainties. We prepare ourselves for challenging situations and place our trust in our skills and experience.

What role does the legal department play in promoting and ensuring corporate social responsibility in your organisation?

The legal department plays a pivotal role in promoting and ensuring corporate social responsibility within our organisation. Key regulations such as the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, the EU Deforestation Regulation, and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) are particularly significant in our business area, providing essential frameworks that guide our commitment to ethical practices and sustainable operations. Our “Integrated Governance” approach helps us anticipate developments in these areas.

However, in all honesty, the current “regulation overload” we face is a challenge for us, as well as for every player with limited resources in our industry.

What do you see as the major legal challenges for businesses in Germany over the next five years, and how are you preparing to address them?

In the next five years, businesses in Germany will face significant legal challenges, primarily due to geopolitical factors. This includes trends like “de-coupling” and potential tariffs, such as those from the U.S. We are also witnessing political instability in several regions, which complicates any healthy business environment. To address these issues, we are placing a stronger emphasis on collaboration within industry associations and networks, including political advisors. This engagement allows us to stay informed and advocate for sensible regulations. Additionally, regionally diversified strategies may become increasingly important in a dynamic market environment.

Furthermore, the overwhelming regulation in the EU and other regions will continue to pose challenges. The CSRD, data protection laws, and the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act are just a few examples of the hurdles businesses currently face. Advertising and marketing restrictions in our industry also present additional complexities.

On the topic of digitalisation and AI, many people view these as “challenges” or even “threats.” My perspective differs: for legal departments, digitalisation and AI offer opportunities. They can help reduce standardised and routine tasks. It is up to us to explore new tools and methods to increase efficiencies. However, we must also be cautious not to become distracted by too many technological initiatives.