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Zalando has appointed David Schröder as new co-CEO of the business, as co-founder David Schneider steps down to focus on group-wide strategic partnerships and brand relations.
Schröder, who will serve alongside co-founder Robert Gentz, will focus on building the B2B operating system that enables e-commerce across Europe on and off the Zalando platform and further developing its infrastructure.
Meanwhile Gentz will continue on expanding Zalando’s B2C growth vector to make Zalando the go-to destination for “quality fashion and lifestyle shopping”.
Schröder, who is currently Zalando’s COO, has been part of the senior management team since 2010, serving as CFO until 2022 and as SVP convenience until 2019.
Schneider, who co-founded Zalando with Gentz in 2008, said: “One of Zalando’s strengths has always been to adapt our strategy and rotate the roles and responsibilities of its strong leadership team to make sure everyone compliments each other and serves the ever-changing needs of customers and partners.
“We are thrilled that David Schröder, who has been an integral part of Zalando’s success story since the early days in 2010, will take on the co-CEO role to scale our B2B growth vector. On a personal note, I’m excited to focus even more on serving the needs of partners, lifting our deep partnerships across the industry to the next level.”
As part of the platform’s ecosystem strategy, chief people officer Astrid Arndt has the additional responsibility of strengthening Zalando’s corporate functions. In addition, chief financial officer Sandra Dembeck will enable the execution of the strategy with financial management that allows strategic investments into Zalando’s long-term growth and continues the company’s margin expansion.
Kelly Bennett, chairperson of the Zalando supervisory board, said: “15 years after Zalando was founded, new commercial opportunities are opening up as consumers and partners have new expectations and needs.
“The adjusted management board responsibilities will help this strong group of executives and Zalando’s first-class teams across 140 countries execute the ecosystem strategy in the most impactful way and embrace the exciting opportunities ahead of them.”
