Aldi announces new CEOs for the UK and Australia
Matthew Barnes takes on UK CEO role
After four years of running the UK business together as joint MDs, Matthew Barnes and German-born Roman Heini are to take up new roles within the company. As of 1 April 2015, Heini will move back to his native Germany where he will sit on the advisory board for Aldi Sud as Chairman. Meanwhile, Barnes will become CEO for Aldi UK and Ireland, supported by two new joint MDs. The pair have been instrumental to the discounter's rapid recent UK growth and it will be interesting to see what this new structure will bring to the UK offer.
Tom Daunt announced as CEO of Australasia
Aldi Sud is also applying this new model to senior leadership in Australia, where current joint MD Tom Daunt will be taking up the position of CEO for Aldi Australasia. Daunt will be supported in his role by current co-MD, Stefan Kopp, who will retail the role of group managing director of Aldi Australia. The news of the restructure comes as Aldi prepares to enter two new states in Australia, increasing its reach to the south and west of the country where it currently has no presence.
Aldi prioritises markets and considers China entry
The senior changes within Aldi Sud come as the discounter focuses its priorities on its biggest international markets: UK, USA and Australia. Large capital investments are being channelled into these three markets, which will see store numbers grow and new areas explored. According to German media, Aldi is also looking at China as a market with significant potential. However, at present, the discounter is clearly focusing on driving growth in those markets where its existing strengths lie and where is clearly sees significant potential for further growth.
source: igd.com
