Ricola boss commits suicide

The CEO of Swiss confectionery company Ricola, Adrian Kohler, has committed suicide days after he admitted being responsible for accounting irregularities.

Felix Richterich, the chairman of the Basel-based cough drop and candy company has explained that the financial irregularities reported last week were insignificant, and the suicide of company CEO Adrian Kohler remains “incomprehensible”.

A spokesman said the amount of money in question was a few hundred thousand francs and there was no question of the company’s financial health being endangered. Kohler killed himself two days after the revelations.

Ricola currently exports 30 different types of lozenges, based on a secret herbal recipe, to more than 50 countries worldwide.
 
The company, founded in 1930, has strong traditional roots and is now owned by the third-generation descendants of founder, Emil Richterich.

Kohler had worked at Ricola for some 25 years and in 2004 had become the first non-family member to hold the position of chief executive. Subsidiaries were opened in Italy, Hong Kong and Britain to help cope with expansion. Kohler, who was 53 at the time of his death, leaves a wife and two adult children.