Berlin-based Zalando announced that it is changing roles in its management board to ensure it can carry out its new plan – to become the “leading” online shopping platform for fashion and lifestyle across Europe.
The company is focusing on two growth factors, Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B).
David Schneider’s new role
David Schneider, one of Zalando’s co-founders, will now focus on forming partner relationships for both Zalando’s B2C and B2B ambitions, strengthening the Zalando brand. Because partnerships are important for Zalando’s big plan, Schneider has decided to take on a new role on the Management Board specifically for these tasks.
Schneider says, “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 complements each other and serves the ever-changing needs of customers and partners.”
Schneider, who started Zalando with Robert Gentz back in 2008, helped grow the company from a small startup selling flip-flops online from their apartment in Berlin to a “leading” e-commerce business in Europe. Now, Zalando serves 50 million customers in 25 countries.
Schneider is passing on his role as co-CEO to David Schröder.
Schröder, in his new position, will focus on creating the system that allows businesses to sell online across Europe, both on and off the Zalando website. He’ll also work on improving Zalando’s capabilities and infrastructure.
Schröder has been in Zalando’s senior management team since 2010. He was the Chief Financial Officer until 2022 and was Senior Vice President of Convenience until 2019.
Schneider adds, “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.”
Other management changes to support ‘ecosystem’ strategy
Co-founder Robert Gentz will continue in his role as co-CEO and focus on expanding Zalando’s B2C growth vector to make Zalando the go-to-destination for quality fashion, lifestyle products, and ideas.
To give Zalando a strong foundation, Astrid Arndt, the Chief People Officer, will also focus on making sure Zalando’s corporate functions are strong.
Dr. Sandra Dembeck, the Chief Financial Officer, will focus on strategic investments in Zalando’s long-term growth and margin expansion.
These changes will come into effect as of September 1, 2024.
New commercial opportunities
Zalando’s new strategy aims to capture a larger share of the fashion and lifestyle online shopping world and strengthen its connections with customers and partners.
In B2C, Zalando claims to stand out by offering “quality” products to shoppers. It also focuses on areas like Sports and Kids & Family, giving personalised ideas.
In B2B, the company is opening its logistics infrastructure, software, and services to help other brands and sellers with their online sales, whether they use Zalando’s website or not.
Zalando thinks this B2B part could become a big business on its own in the next few years, worth billions of euros. With this strategy, Zalando aims for growth and to make more money until 2028.
Kelly Bennett, Chairperson of the Zalando Supervisory Board, says, “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 from around 140 countries execute the ecosystem strategy in the most impactful way and embrace the exciting opportunities ahead of them.”
Brief about Zalando
Founded in 2008, Zalando claims it is building the “leading” pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle e-commerce. It brings together customers, brands, and partners in 25 countries.
What began as a shoe store in Berlin quickly grew into an online platform for fashion and lifestyle in Europe. Currently, the company has over 15,000 employees in 140 different countries.
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