Dr. Hans-Joachim Körber (61), a member of the Board since 1996, CEO since 1999, under whose leadership the Company has grown to become the third largest retailer in the world, has asked the Supervisory Board to be released from his responsibilities effective from October 31P st P, 2007. The Supervisory Board’s Personnel and Nominations Committee noted this request with deep regret and with the greatest respect for Dr. Körber’s achievements and recommends the Supervisory Board to consent to a mutually agreed revocation of the appointment.
The Personnel and Nominations Committee has also recommended to the Supervisory Board of METRO Group to appoint Dr. Eckhard Cordes, currently Chairman of the Supervisory Board of METRO Group, as succeeding Member of the Management Board and to appoint him also as Chairman of the Management Board.
Dr. Körber joined Metro in 1985, firstly as a Board member for Metro SB-Großmärkte and then from 1991, as a member of the Board of Metro International AG in Baar/Switzerland. In 1996 he was appointed to the Board of METRO Group, Düsseldorf, becoming CEO in 1999 and finally Chairman of the Management Board in 2001.
During Dr. Körber’s highly successful era as CEO and Chairman of the Management Board, METRO Group has opened up to become a transparent and capital market focussed company. In addition, Dr. Körber has been instrumental in driving the fast-moving process of internationalisation across the Group. Today, METRO Group, with sales of around 60 billion €, is the most international retailer in the world. Last but not least, it is thanks to the great successes in Eastern Europe and Asia that the Group has expanded to become the third largest retailer in the world. The Group has also continued to strengthen its position in its more challenging domestic market, Germany and also in other Western European countries. At the same time METRO Group has played a leading role at the forefront of innovation in the arena of international retail.
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Dr. Eckhard Cordes, thanked Dr. Körber for his great achievements. Thanks to his efforts the METRO Group can look back on a track-record which is unparalleled in its success. In addition, Dr. Körber has laid the foundations for a continuing, stable, upward trend in the core divisions. He has set the company on course for a successful future. The entire company owes Dr. Körber a debt of unreserved gratitude.
The Personnel and Nominations Committee has also recommended to the Supervisory Board of METRO Group to appoint Dr. Eckhard Cordes, currently Chairman of the Supervisory Board of METRO Group, as succeeding Member of the Management Board and to appoint him also as Chairman of the Management Board.
Dr. Körber joined Metro in 1985, firstly as a Board member for Metro SB-Großmärkte and then from 1991, as a member of the Board of Metro International AG in Baar/Switzerland. In 1996 he was appointed to the Board of METRO Group, Düsseldorf, becoming CEO in 1999 and finally Chairman of the Management Board in 2001.
During Dr. Körber’s highly successful era as CEO and Chairman of the Management Board, METRO Group has opened up to become a transparent and capital market focussed company. In addition, Dr. Körber has been instrumental in driving the fast-moving process of internationalisation across the Group. Today, METRO Group, with sales of around 60 billion €, is the most international retailer in the world. Last but not least, it is thanks to the great successes in Eastern Europe and Asia that the Group has expanded to become the third largest retailer in the world. The Group has also continued to strengthen its position in its more challenging domestic market, Germany and also in other Western European countries. At the same time METRO Group has played a leading role at the forefront of innovation in the arena of international retail.
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Dr. Eckhard Cordes, thanked Dr. Körber for his great achievements. Thanks to his efforts the METRO Group can look back on a track-record which is unparalleled in its success. In addition, Dr. Körber has laid the foundations for a continuing, stable, upward trend in the core divisions. He has set the company on course for a successful future. The entire company owes Dr. Körber a debt of unreserved gratitude.
