The procurement and service company Otto International, which belongs to the Hamburg Otto Group, is about to change management. On Thursday, the parent company announced that Heidi Stevens will take over as CEO on May 15. She will then succeed Michael Dumke. The manager is retiring at the end of June after more than thirty years in the group, the Otto Group announced.
Dumke’s designated successor also has extensive industry experience. Stevens has “has been involved in sourcing and product development for leading international fashion companies for more than twenty years,” the company said. Most recently, she spent 13 years at US retailer Walmart. There she has held the position of Vice President Global Sourcing, General Merchandise & Apparel since 2018. “In this role, the London College of Fashion graduate led a global company in more than 20 countries with direct responsibility for sourcing, quality and technical design services, quality assurance processes, raw materials and business development,” explained her future employer.
Sergio Bucher, who is responsible for Brands and Retail on the Executive Board of the Otto Group, explained the personnel decision: “Heidi Stevens brings with him an exceptionally high level of expertise in international procurement and is an experienced manager. Her engaging personality and the values she embodies will be an asset to the Otto International teams,” he said in a statement. “We are pleased to have found the right successor for the management of Otto International in her and are certain that she will continue to develop the company sustainably and successfully.”