Zalando introduces updated operating model, reappoints David Schröder as COO

• Supervisory Board reappoints David Schröder as Chief Operating Officer, with the mandate to continue building and scaling Zalando’s unique capabilities and offerings as well as enabling the company’s growth.
• Chief Business and Product Officer Jim Freeman, who had a clearly defined transformation mandate, will leave when his term expires on March 31, 2023, after having very successfully completed his work. He enabled Zalando to scale faster and better while enhancing its overall customer centric approach, resulting in an operating model and organization that empowers individual markets to better serve local customers.

BERLIN, DECEMBER 12, 2022 // The Supervisory Board of Zalando SE (“Zalando”) has reappointed David Schröder as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Schröder will continue to further scale Zalando’s European multi-channel logistics network and unlock new growth opportunities such as helping partners to boost their direct-to-consumer business across a variety of channels.

Chief Business and Product Officer Jim Freeman will leave as planned when his term expires on March 31, 2023. Freeman played an instrumental part in developing Zalando’s strategy focused on deepening customer relationships and becoming the starting point for fashion, the destination that consumers gravitate to for all their fashion needs, and then successfully led the execution of that strategy. He leaves having helped transform the company into an even more customer-oriented and scalable business. With his help, Zalando developed and introduced an updated operating model to build even deeper relationships with customers and partners across its 25 markets.

“In recent years, Zalando has successfully reinforced its ambition to be the Starting Point for Fashion and has introduced and expanded other business segments in addition to the Fashion Store. The updated operating model and corresponding organization are a critical step for Zalando to further deliver on its strategic ambition and create long-term value for customers, partners, and shareholders in an even more agile and customer-centric way,” said Cristina Stenbeck, Chairperson of the Zalando Supervisory Board. “We are absolutely thrilled to continue working with David Schröder as Chief Operating Officer as he further scales Zalando’s unique capabilities and offerings. David had a tremendously profound impact on our business and his work is crucial to unlock new growth opportunities. The Supervisory Board also wishes to express its gratitude to Jim Freeman for his leadership and execution of the overall strategy.”

Zalando’s work to deepen relationships with customers includes creating incentives for customers to shop at Zalando repeatedly across different categories. In recent years, Zalando has already made great progress in this area by expanding, diversifying and connecting its offerings. For example, Zalando’s Fashion Store and Lounge shopping club can be used with the same account, and the Beauty and Designer categories are continuously gaining in attractiveness and importance. Zalando’s loyalty program, Plus, has seen a strong surge in membership.

The company’s updated operating model now brings the organization further in line with its strategic ambitions. The model enables Zalando to develop deeper knowledge of local customers and different audiences, ultimately resulting in the right mix of offerings for each market. It will also empower teams to build distinct compelling customer experiences and curate the most relevant assortment to give customers more and more reasons to come back.

“David Schröder has been an absolutely integral part of Zalando's success story since 2010 and together, we have reached many company milestones on the journey from a start-up to a company that now serves over 50 million customers through its pan-European infrastructure,'' said Zalando co-CEO Robert Gentz. “I also would like to thank Jim, who is an incredible product leader, strategic mind, and trusted sparring partner. He has been crucial in making Zalando even more customer-minded, execution focused, and innovation driven – a task he took on over five years ago and that he has accomplished very successfully. We are grateful for his contributions to our journey during his time with Zalando, and we wish him all the best for his future pursuits.”

Jim Freeman, who joined Zalando in 2018 first as SVP Technology and then the Management Board as Chief Business and Product Officer, will be working closely with the Management Board and senior leaders on his handover and will remain close to the company thereafter.