Swedish retailer Coop has appointed Charlotte Szczepanowski as the head of its newly formed sustainability and quality unit.
The creation of the new unit reflects 'deeply rooted' concerns about sustainability in the cooperative, the company said.
Szczepanowski joins Coop from Swedish housing company Riksbyggen, where she worked for nine years and was most recently the head of sustainable development. Previously, she worked with Electrolux and Posten in a similar position.
In 2014, she was named Sweden's best sustainability manager by the Miljöaktuellt publication.
"It will be very exciting to get to know Coop from the inside. Coop already has a recognised, successful sustainability [programme[, which I want to continue to build on," said Szczepanowski.
She will start her new position on 1 October, 2018, replacing Louise König. While she will report to CMO Björn Larsson, she will be adjunct to Coop's group management, the group said.
Future Sustainability Efforts
Magnus Johansson, CEO of Coop Sverige AB, commented on her appointment,"We are very pleased to have recruited Charlotte to this important job at Coop.
"Her broad industrial experience of how companies can communicate and assure that quality, vital sustainability processes will be a crucial addition to our future sustainability efforts."
Coop's sustainability efforts garnered its designation as Sweden's most sustainable brand by the Sustainability Brand Index this year.
It posted net sales of SEK 32.18 billion in 2017, representing growth of 2%, compared to the previous year.
However, the Swedish retailer saw operating profit for the year fall from SEK 172 million to SEK 35 million, citing a weak start to 2017 with a declining sales trend, as well as increased investment.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Karen Henderson. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
