The managing director of the Swiss arm of convenience wholesaler Lekkerland AG & Co. KG has stepped down, the company reported Wednesday.
Effective 1 May, Klaus Baumann will be succeeded at Lekkerland (Schweiz) AG by commercial director Raphael Maier, and Daniel Rüegg, director of finance and operations, who will act as deputy managing directors.
Maier will oversee the digital procurement, HR, communications, marketing and sales divisions, while Rüegg shall maintain his responsibility over the finance and logistics divisions.
Prior to leaving the company at the end of 2018, Baumann will stay on as part of the supervisory board of the company. He will also continue in an advisory capacity for strategic projects.
“I want to express my gratitude to Klaus Baumann for his many years of commitment and service in all his many functions and I wish him in future all the very best both privately and professionally," commented Patrick Steppe, CEO of parent company Lekkerland AG & Co. KG.
Baumann, 57, started his career at the company ten years ago. He was initially the board chairman for Lekkerland's German subsidiary Convenience Concept. Before he was promoted to the post of managing director in 2013, he helped create the Lekkerland growth strategy, dubbed ‘Convenience 2020’.
"Vast experience"
Maier, 35, started as the Swiss head of logistics. Upon his appointment to director in 2015, he assumed responsibility for Austria as well. In February last year, he began to oversee the sales and marketing division.
Thirty-seven-year-old Rüegg originally started with the wholesaler in 2009 as junior controller and then took over the position of head of sales, controlling and marketing services. In 2013 he became head of finance, overseeing the finance and controllling divisions. He was promoted to his most recent role in February 2017.
"I’m very pleased to have two excellent executives, Raphael Maier and Daniel Rüegg, taking over the management of Lekkerland (Schweiz) AG," Steppe added. "I am certain with all of their vast experience and ideas, the future of the company will develop positively."
Lekkerland (Schweiz) AG is part of the Lekkerland group, offering confectionery products, food, soft drinks, non-food items and tobacco products, among others. Located in Brunegg. it stocks and services around 3,400 service stations, railway shops, news agents, and convenience stores.
In 2016, the company posted a turnover of €724 million, according to its website.
