// Lidl GB is promoting Ryan McDonnell to the position of chief executive
// Current UK CEO Christian Härtnagel will become chief executive at Lidl Germany – the largest of the Lidl businesses
Supermarket Lidl has announced that its current UK chief executive Christian Härtnagel will become chief executive at Lidl Germany, while Ryan McDonnell will be promoted to lead the group’s UK operations.
Currently holding the position of deputy chief executive, McDonnell will start his new role on 1 February while Härtnagel will take up his post a month later.
McDonnell, who left a family business in construction for Lidl’s graduate scheme in 2000, set up the company’s buying and marketing divisions.
READ MORE: Lidl targets 1100 stores by 2025 with 4000 new jobs
McDonnell‘s career at Lidl spans over 21 years and also includes stints as chief commercial officer of Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, and chief commercial officer of Lidl GB.
McDonnell said: “Christian hands over a business built on strong foundations and I’m incredibly excited to have the baton passed on to me. I have worked at Lidl GB now for over six years, during which time we have seen our store estate, colleague and customer numbers grow exponentially. We couldn’t be in a better place as a business and I feel privileged to be taking us forward from here.”
Härtnagel has headed up Lidl GB for more than five years after being promoted from the role of chief operations officer for Lidl Austria, where he was responsible for sales and operations.
He has worked with Lidl for over 18 years and has held a variety of positions including regional director at Lidl Ireland.
Härtnagel will replace current Lidl Germany CEO Matthias Oppitz, who the company said will take on a new international role on its board.
Härtnagel said: “It feels special, both personally and professionally, to be given the opportunity to go back to the country where I started my career many years ago, and to take the helm of the biggest market in the Lidl family,”
“I’ve worked closely with Ryan for some time and have every faith in his ability to lead Lidl in Great Britain, and to build on the team’s fantastic track record in recent years. I feel very proud to leave the company in such capable and safe hands. Ryan and I are focused on delivering the best Christmas ever for our customers.”
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