Picture: Schwarz Gruppe

Gerd Chrzanowski

CEO, Schwarz Gruppe

About Gerd Chrzanowski

Gerd Chrzanowski has been CEO of the Schwarz Group, a leading global retail firm with 575,000 employees, 13,500 stores in 32 countries, and revenues of more than 150 billion euros, since 2021, He is one of the most influential and respected managers in the global retail industry and was awarded “Manager of the Year” by Handelsblatt. The Schwarz Group is made up of the two retail divisions Lidl and Kaufland, Schwarz Produktion, which is active in food production, and PreZero in environmental services.

Mr. Chrzanowski was appointed CEO of Lidl in 2020 after serving as CEO of SB Dienstleistung KG. Prior to that, Mr. Chrzanowski served as member of the board for central services at Lidl Germany before becoming CEO of Schwarz Zentrale Dienste KG. Mr. Chrzanowski has held various positions at the Schwarz Group for over 20 years and played a key role in developing the organizational area at Lidl Germany.

Mr. Chrzanowski holds a degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Manchester Metropolitan University. He completed an apprenticeship as an automotive salesman.