Merit Oehme

Merit Oehme (Buama) is an experienced sustainability professional currently serving as the Sustainability Manager Procurement at Volkswagen AG, where responsibilities include leading projects related to the EU Deforestation Regulation and managing responsible sourcing of natural rubber. Previously, Merit held the position of Chairwoman at the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa, guiding high-level dialogues and overseeing operational budgets. As Manager of Cocoa Programs at Ritter Sport, Merit developed sourcing strategies and sustainability initiatives across multiple cocoa-producing countries. Additionally, consultancy work provided advisory services focused on commodity sourcing and training for smallholder farmers. Earlier roles included serving as Regional Advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, where Merit managed public-private partnerships and training programs for cocoa smallholders in West Africa. Educational qualifications include a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Sciences from FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg.