Franz-Josef Hasebrink, long-time CEO of the EK-Service Group, according to Wikipedia one of the largest trade cooperations in Europe with a total turnover of 2.2 billion euros in 2020, is leaving the EK board at the end of the year. Hasebrink was appointed to the board in 1997 and appointed chairman in 2002.
He will be succeeded by the current CFO Martin Richrath, who has been responsible for finance on the Executive Board since 2017. Frank Duijst, currently Head of Financial Services, is to join the Board of Management as CFO. Frank Duijst has been a member of the Group’s Executive Board since 2017.
According to the company in a press release, the decisions on the realignment of the Management Board in connection with the successor to the CEO were made a long time ago. In a first phase, two new board members, Jochen Pohle and Gertjo Janssen, were appointed in October 2021. With this second phase, the realignment of the Management Board will now be completed, it is said.
As of January 1, 2023, the Management Board of the EK Group will consist of the following four people: Martin Richrath will become Chief Executive Officer, Frank Duijst will assume the position of Chief Financial Officer, and Jochen Pohle and Gertjo Janssen will remain on the Management Board as Chief Retail Officers.
The group operates as a registered cooperative in the business areas of EK Home, EK Fashion, EK Living, EK DIY, EK Sport and EK Books.