Hamburg, Germany, 2017-Nov-16 — /EPR Retail News/ — With effect from 01 April 2018 the top manager from the Schwarz Group is to become Executive Board Member Multichannel Retail at the Otto Group. The 43 year-old succeeds Neela Montgomery, who has taken over as CEO at the Otto Group company Crate and Barrel at her own wish.
In Sven Seidel the Otto Group has gained one of Europe’s most renowned retail managers to lead its retail business. Following several consultancy positions, he has held leading executive positions in the globally active Schwarz Group, based in Neckarsulm, Germany. Over the last three years Sven Seidel has led the strategic, digital and cultural further development of retail giant Lidl; during his time in office the company has laid the groundwork for a successful expansion into further new markets such as the USA, and has begun to structure a viable digital structure for the future.
Sven Seidel is to head the Otto Group’s Multichannel Retail Business on the Executive Board. His responsibilities will comprise company groups such as Crate and Barrel, SportScheck, Manufactum and Frankonia, as well as providing strategic consultancy on the varied retail activities of the Otto Group’s major omnichannel providers, from Bonprix to the Witt Group. Furthermore, Sven Seidel will be responsible for all the Otto Group’s import activities, which are bundled within the Group company Hermes Otto International (HOI).
“I have come to know Mr Seidel as an outstandingly agile, highly experienced and very successful manager who will provide key new stimuli for the Otto Group’s omnichannel retail activities”, emphasizes Dr Michael Otto, Chairman of the Otto Group Supervisory Board. “His personality and leadership mentality are an excellent match for our group of companies.”
“The Otto Group is an internationally successful and digitally very well positioned company, with a unique corporate culture. In these times of massive change in retail I am delighted to be able to make a contribution to the Otto Group’s further development”, says Sven Seidel.
The 43 year-old is to succeed Neela Montgomery, who took over as CEO at the furniture and lifestyle specialist Crate and Barrel, based in Northbrook near Chicago, on 01 August 2017 at her own wish.
Mr Seidel’s appointment is pending approval by the Otto Group Supervisory Board.
Über die Otto Group
Founded in Germany in 1949, today the Otto Group is a globally operating retail and services group with around 49,750 employees. The Group includes 123 major companies and is present in over 30 countries in Europe, North and South America and Asia. Its business activities are grouped into three segments: Multichannel Retail, Financial Services and Service. In the 2016/17 financial year (to 28 February), the Otto Group generated turnover of 12.5 billion euros. It is one of the world’s largest online retailer. E-commerce, catalogue sales and over-the-counter retail form the three pillars of the Otto Group’s Multichannel Retail strategy. Its worldwide corporate activities, numerous strategic partnerships and joint ventures provide the Otto Group with excellent opportunities to transfer knowhow and leverage areas of synergy potential. Group companies operate largely independently, guaranteeing flexibility, customer proximity and optimum target-group appeal in their respective national markets.
Media Contact:
Thomas Voigt
Tel.: +49 40 6461 4010
Email: thomas.voigt@ottogroup.com
Source: Otto Group