Aptar leadership change sees Gael Touya appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of AptarGroup, Inc., effective 1 September 2026, as Stephan B. Tanda prepares to retire by the end of the year.
The transition marks a key moment for one of the world’s leading suppliers of dispensing systems and closures used across FMCG packaging and supermarket product categories.
Quick note
• Gael Touya named CEO from September 2026
• Stephan Tanda to retire by end of 2026
• Internal successor with 30+ years at Aptar
• Experience across pharma, food and beverage, and beauty segments
• Leadership transition supported by advisory handover
Touya currently leads Aptar’s pharma division but has previously held senior roles across food and beverage packaging and consumer dispensing systems. This includes responsibility for closures, caps and dispensing technologies widely used in packaged food, beverages and household products.
The company operates across multiple end markets, supplying packaging components that form part of everyday FMCG formats on supermarket shelves. Its closures and dispensing systems are embedded in categories such as beverages, sauces, personal care and home care products.
Under Tanda’s leadership since 2017, Aptar expanded its global footprint and strengthened higher-margin segments, while maintaining its role as a core supplier to FMCG manufacturers and private label producers.
The leadership change comes as packaging suppliers continue to adapt to evolving requirements around sustainability, product functionality and cost efficiency across global retail supply chains.
Touya’s international experience across Europe, Asia and North America reflects Aptar’s global customer base and the need to align packaging solutions with regional market demands.
The transition will be completed by the end of 2026, with Touya joining the Board and Tanda remaining in an advisory role during the handover period.
Why it matters
The Aptar leadership change highlights how major packaging suppliers are positioning for the next phase of FMCG and retail supply chain development.
For US packaging, leadership continuity combined with cross-segment experience supports ongoing innovation in closures and dispensing systems used across supermarket categories.
It also reinforces the importance of scale, technology and integration in supporting both branded and private label packaging strategies.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on Aptar’s official announcement regarding its CEO transition and reflects its role as a global supplier to FMCG packaging and dispensing markets.
