Breuninger assumes the IADS presidency

Breuninger assumes the IADS presidency

IADS - International Association of Department Stores

Holger Blecker, the CEO of the fashion and lifestyle company Breuninger, has been elected as the new president of the International Association of Department Stores, IADS. This international association promotes a strong and future-oriented retail sector and is the oldest association of department stores worldwide, founded in 1928.

The 62nd General Assembly of the IADS elected Breuninger CEO Holger Blecker as its new president on 28 October 2021 in Paris. The 51-year-old retail expert will represent the international association for an initial period of one year. Breuninger has been a member of the IADS since 1987 and previously provided a president of the IADS in 1991 with Willem G. van Agtmael. Holger Blecker is now succeeding Juan Carlos Escribano, CEO of the Palacio de Hierro SAB de Group (Mexico).

“Leading the IADS with its world-famous department stores during these challenging times is a great honour and is of particular significance for me. Together, we represent strong department stores that are resolutely tackling the challenges of the future and undergoing major transformations. All members have their roots in retail and share a strong commitment to in-store, service-oriented commerce and vibrant cities as well as the opportunities of digitalisation. As department stores, we are always reinventing ourselves and creating an attractive lifestyle experience for our customers.”

(Holger Blecker, Chairman of the Breuninger Management)

Together with the new vice-president Kamshim Lau (Lifestyle International Holdings Hong Kong), Holger Blecker will promote the interests of the IADS and further expand the position of the association in the international trade sector.

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International Association of Department Stores

The IADS is the oldest and most exclusive professional think tank for department stores worldwide.

Today, the association comprises a group of 12 members from all around the world, all of them market leaders or key players on their respective markets, and represents a cumulative annual turnover of more than 31 billion euros generated by more than 490 business with 233,000 employees in 19 countries. The members are: Centro Beco (Venezuela), Beijing Hualian Group (VR China), Breuninger (Germany), El Corte Inglés (Spain), El Palacio de Hierro (Mexico), Falabella (Chile), Galeries Lafayette (France), Lifestyle International Holdings (Hong Kong), Magasin du Nord (Denmark), Manor (Switzerland), The Mall (Thailand), SM (Philippines).

With the wide variety of business models and cultures that are represented, the association and its members are enriched by an exchange that is all the more valuable for the solutions and stimulating discussions it inspires.

 

E. Breuninger GmbH & Co.

The fashion and lifestyle company Breuninger was founded by Eduard Breuninger in 1881 and is now one of the leading multi-channel department stores in Europe. Over its 140-year history, Breuninger has set high standards for fashion, beauty and lifestyle with an exclusive selection of international designer brands and select newcomer brands. The online shop www.breuninger.com launched in 2008 is one of the most successful online shops in the premium segment and is also available to customers in Austria, Switzerland and Poland. Apart from impeccable style and a sense for trends, Breuninger is deeply customer-oriented: Offers such as Special Service, the in-house bespoke atelier, Click&Collect and online reservations, the in-store order service and shuttle service ensure an extraordinary shopping experience, whether online or in person. In Germany and Luxembourg, Breuninger now runs 13 department stores with around 6,000 employees. The grand opening of Breuninger in Hamburg is planned for 2023.