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Press ReleaseInvestorsManagement Board

Philippe Palazzi leaves METRO AG - Rafael Gasset and Eric Poirier move up to the management board to take charge of operations

20 March 2020Download

Philippe Palazzi (49) will resign from his position as Chief Operating Officer (COO) on the Management Board of METRO AG with effect from 31 March 2020.

Philippe Palazzi,
Chief Operating Officer until 31 March 2020
Download JPG 4 MB

  • As of 1 April 2020, Rafael Gasset and Eric Poirier will be appointed to the Management Board of METRO AG to take charge of operations
  • Rafael Gasset will be responsible for the Trader countries as Chief Operating Officer (COO) Convenience; Eric Poirier will lead the Horeca countries and Food Service Distribution (FSD) companies as COO Hospitality
  • Both are succeeding Philippe Palazzi, who is leaving the company as of 31 March 2020 at his own request

Philippe Palazzi is leaving the company at his own request and will move to a CEO role in a globally operating French company in summer 2020. In line with the focus on wholesale and in order to strengthen the operations in METRO’s Management Board the Supervisory Board has nominated two COOs, both coming from within the METRO organisation. Rafael Gasset will be responsible for the Trader countries as COO Convenience; Eric Poirier will lead the Horeca countries and the Food Service Distribution (FSD) companies as COO Hospitality.

"In his position on the Management Board and during his 25-year career at METRO, Philippe Palazzi has successfully supported the business with a lot of energy and great strategic accents," explains Jürgen Steinemann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of METRO AG. "Philippe is a highly regarded member of the METRO team. He has contributed a lot. We would like to thank him most sincerely for his great achievements and his passionate commitment to our company and our customers. We regret his departure and wish Philippe Palazzi all the best for his new tasks outside METRO," adds Olaf Koch, Chairman of the Management Board METRO AG.