Swiss glass packaging provider Vetropack Group has appointed Lukas Burkhardt as its CEO, effective 1 January 2026.

He succeeded Johann Reiter, who retired after leading the company since 2018.

Burkhardt has been on the management board at Gerresheimer, in charge of the primary packaging glass division, since 2018.

He previously held stints at Audi in Germany and Rieter Automotive Group (now Autoneum), particularly focusing on operations in Asia.

In 2015, Burkhardt became part of the executive board of Franke Group as chief operating officer, overseeing production across more than 30 sites as well as logistics, procurement, and engineering.

Burkhardt said: “I am very much looking forward to my new role and to leading Vetropack into the future.

“For me, Vetropack is a traditional company with enormous potential: As a family business, we are firmly established in the market and have enormous expertise in the development of one of the most sustainable packaging solutions available. We are also well-positioned internationally and have a team of experts across all our locations. If we play these trump cards right, we can be successful even in the currently very challenging market environment.”

Vetropack board of directors chairman Claude Cornaz commented: “In Lukas Burkhardt, we have secured our first-choice candidate for the position of CEO. He knows our industry and understands how it works. At the same time, he brings fresh ideas and concepts from his previous positions to our company.”

During Reiter’s tenure as CEO, Vetropack introduced thermally tempered lightweight glass bottles and developed Strategy 2030+.

Cornaz added: “Johann Reiter led the Vetropack Group successfully since 2018. In particular, he has driven ahead the Group's internationalisation and strategic realignment. Johann Reiter has initiated important developments and thus made a lasting impact on Vetropack.”