DIA has announced the appointment of Ricardo Álvarez as the new chief executive of its Spanish division.
He will be responsible for leading the retailer's turnaround and growth in the country.
Álvarez's appointment is in line with the company's strategy to focus on local businesses with experienced teams in countries where it operates, DIA said in its statement.
The chief executive of DIA Group, Karl-Heinz Holland, welcomed him to the company, saying, "He [Álvarez] is dynamic and agile, coupled with a proven track record of achieving ambitious goals with excellent results and a clear passion for the client.
"With his support and experience, I am sure that we will accelerate the process of change that the business needs."
An Industry Veteran
Álvarez is an industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience in the food retail sector in Spain and the United States.
He has been instrumental in leading cultural change projects and successfully driving customer-centred business growth.
Álvarez worked for Tesco Ireland in Bray, Co. Wicklow, before returning to his native Spain, where he joined Lidl.
He held various top positions with the discounter and was involved in various expansion, sales and team-building projects.
Between 2013 to 2018, he served as Lidl's executive vice-president and chief operations officer in Spain and the United States.
Commenting on his new role, Álvarez, said, "My commitment in DIA is with its 26,000 employees and 1,500 franchisees who are dedicated, despite the difficulties, to providing the best service to our customers. I join this great team to make DIA the preferred choice for many customers."
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
