Metro AG has announced that its chief operating officer and member of the management board, Philippe Palazzi, has decided to step down from the position, effective 31 March.
He will continue to serve as an advisor to the management board until 31 May 2020 to ensure a smooth handover.
Palazzi was part of the wholesale giant for 25 years and was instrumental in building the business, the company said.
Olaf Koch, chairman of Metro AG’s management board, commented, ”Philippe [Palazzi] is a highly regarded member of the Metro team. He has contributed a lot. We would like to thank him most sincerely for his great achievements and his passionate commitment to our company and our customers.”
Successors
Palazzi, who is to join a French company as the CEO this summer, will be succeeded by Metro executives Rafael Gasset and Eric Poirier on 1 April 2020.
They will also join the management board of Metro AG, which includes Olaf Koch (CEO), Christian Baier (CFO), and Andrea Euenheim (CHRO).
Rafael Gasset will be responsible for the trader countries as the chief operating officer of convenience, while Eric Poirier will lead the HoReCa segment and the foodservice distribution (FSD) companies as the operations chief of hospitality.
'Extensive Operational Experience'
Commenting on the new appointments, Koch, said, “Rafael Gasset and Eric Poirier have extensive operational experience in wholesale and a deep understanding of customers.
“In their various functions within Metro, they have demonstrated leadership strength and the ability to successfully transform the business.”
Presently, Gasset serves as an operating partner responsible for Metro’s wholesale companies in Russia, Poland, Romania and Moldova.
He has been a part of the company for 12 years and joined its senior management team in 2015.
Poirier is also an operating partner of the company, responsible for France, Italy, Spain and Portugal as well as for the FSD company Pro à Pro.
He spent 20 years in the company and held various managerial posts in several countries, including that of the CFO of Metro France and CEO of Makro Poland.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
