In October, Merkur Group will undergo significant leadership changes with new Chairs being appointed for the Supervisory Board, Management Board, and the Board of Directors of the Gauselmann Family Foundation.
These changes are prompted by the departure of the company’s founder, Paul Gauselmann, who will step down from his position as Chair of the Management Board and leave executive leadership after 67 years of service on October 1.
During his tenure at Merkur, he played a key role in transforming the company into an internationally recognized group, achieving an annual revenue of around €4 billion ($4.24 billion) and external sales exceeding €2.7 billion ($2.86 billion).
However, Gauselmann will continue to maintain his connection with the company as a member of the Gauselmann Family Foundation.
Gauselmann commented: “I have consistently devoted my energy to the company’s welfare and at the same time to the benefit of our approximately 15,000 employees. Now the time has come to entrust my life’s work to the younger generation.”
Current CFO Lars Felderhoff will be replacing Gauselmann as Management Board Chair. Felderhoff will be supported by Vice Chairs Jürgen Stühmeyer, a Management Board member with responsibility for sales, and Manfred Stoffers, a Management Board member with responsibility for marketing, communications and political affairs.
Felderhoff, who has overseen the finances and organization of Merkur Group since 2018, will also take on the role of the new Group Chair. He remarked on his new position: “The challenge is immense, and naturally, we will not be able to fill the shoes of an entrepreneur like Paul Gauselmann one-to-one.
“However, the company is robust and agile enough to continue setting new benchmarks in the future.”
Gauselmann commented on the new appointments: “I am delighted that this trio is taking over the helm. They are outstanding leaders with a deep understanding of the company.”
Michael Gauzelmann, Paul’s son, will take over from his father as Chairman of the Board of the Gauzelmann Family Foundation on October 1, and will also become the new Chairman of the Supervisory Board, succeeding Manfred Grünewald.
“I am thrilled that my son Michael is embracing this important responsibility and will contribute his international experience to our company,” stated Gauselmann.
Michael Gauzelmann has been with Merkur since 1982 and has worked across all business segments. He served as Vice-Chair of the Management Board for a decade before becoming Co-Chair of the Group Management Board from 2004 to 2012, sharing responsibilities with his father.
Since 2013, he has been involved in the work of the Gauzelmann Family Council, and since 2016, he has been part of the Gauzelmann Family Foundation.
Paul Gauselmann added: “Reorganizing the company by the time I turn 90 has been my wish for some time. We have accomplished this very well and are ideally positioned for the future, particularly as my son Michael, both a member of the Gauselmann family and an experienced entrepreneur, will continue to be involved in the most critical decisions.”
Don’t forget to subscribe to our Telegram channel!
