Freemans, Bonprix and Quelle owner Otto Group has named one of its veteran executives, Petra Scharner-Wolff, as its new CEO moving from her previous role as CFO.
Petra Scharner-Wolff
She takes over from highly regarded Alexander Birken who’s leaving the executive board after more than eight years as CEO to become chair of the Otto Group supervisory board, taking over from Dr Michael Otto.
Scharner-Wolff’s successor and new CFO of the group is Katy Roewer, who previously headed service, human resources and finance on the management board at Otto. The 49-year-old is another well-respected group veteran who first joined the firm in 2001.
The new CEO has a strong track record. She’s been a member of the Germany-based group’s executive board since 2015 but the 53-year-old originally joined the business in 1999 and from 2002, she assumed responsibility for the financial control of all group companies worldwide as VP of group controlling investments.
She then moved to Schwab Group and was its chair from 2009. Responsible for the planning and financial controlling, finance and accounting, IT merchandise and technology, and human resources divisions. She also “shaped the successful development of” the Sheego fashion brand.
In 2012, Scharner-Wolff moved back to Hamburg and took over a position on the management board at Otto where she was responsible for human resources, financial controlling and IT before being appointed to the group’s executive board.
Michael Otto said she’s “an exceptionally strong leader who stands out not just because of her wealth of experience, entrepreneurial skills, sharp mind but also because of her empathetic understanding of people and culture.
“As CFO, she has played a key role in helping to steer the Otto Group through extremely challenging and changeable times in recent years, and I am sure Petra Scharner-Wolff has everything it takes to continue to shape the future of the group with sustainable success.”
Michael Otto also thanked Birken for what he’s achieved at the group and said he’s “delighted that he will be contributing his extensive entrepreneurial experience to the supervisory board as my successor as chair”.
