Our basic principles

We like to look ahead. Therefore, Zalando applies a corporate governance that stands for responsible leadership and governance of the company with a focus on long-term success. The Management Board and the Supervisory Board at Zalando SE follow the recommendations of the German Code of Corporate Governance, the details of which are provided in our annual reports.

The three main elements of responsible corporate governance

The Management Board

The Management Board is in charge of the fundamental business policy, strategy and annual as well as long-term planning of the company. It also prepares financial statements.

The Supervisory Board

The Supervisory Board appoints, advises and monitors the Management Board and approves of certain transactions and measures. The Management Board and the Supervisory Board cooperate on behalf of the company. The Supervisory Board also reviews the financial statements prepared by the Management Board. It consists of nine members: six shareholder representatives and three employee representatives. The Supervisory Board includes four permanent committees: the Nomination Committee, the Remuneration Committee, the Audit Committee and the D&I and Sustainability Committee.

The shareholders’ general meeting

The shareholders of the company exercise their rights at the general meeting, primarily by passing resolutions, whereby each share carries one vote. The general meeting inter alia decides upon the appropriation of profit, the appointment of independent auditors and the election of the shareholder representatives of the Supervisory Board. The general meeting also serves as a forum for communication between the shareholders and the Management Board and the Supervisory Board.

How we operate

Zalando is committed to high ethical standards. For our employees, these are stipulated in our Code of Ethics, and for our business partners in our Code of Conduct. Zalando has a Compliance Management System in place to foster compliance and ensure consequence management where required. Compliance concerns can be reported, also anonymously, to the Compliance Team via our external whistleblowing tool.