Retail shake-up: Fressnapf fetches new CEO from Tesco leadership
Matt Simister has been working for the British retailer for more than 15 years.
German pet retailer Fressnapf has announced the appointment of a new CEO to lead the group’s expansion starting September 2025.
With over 30 years of experience in retail goods, having spent most of his career at British multinational Tesco, Matt Simister will replace Johannes Steegmann in the post.
Simister held various senior positions at Tesco, including CEO of the Central Europe division, where he oversaw operations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary for the past 8 years. He was also a member of the company’s Executive Committee.
More changes
In addition to Simister’s appointment, Fressnapf has revealed additional changes to its leadership team.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Christian Kümmel will leave the company at the end of April 2025. Sebastian van Stiphout, currently Senior Vice President of Finance & Strategy, will succeed him on an interim basis.
Current interim CEO Peter Pritchard will remain with the company as Co-Chair of the Non-Executive Board alongside Chairman and Founder Torsten Toeller.
Agility and growth
Fressnapf is introducing a new C-level structure to align with its growth strategy, enable more agile, data-driven decisions and enhance response to market shifts.
“These management adaptations are a direct response to the growing complexity of the international pet supplies market and the need for more integrated, forward-thinking leadership,” admits Toeller.
“This new structure will significantly enhance our capacity to deliver exceptional value to our customers and partners across Europe, positioning us for sustained success in an increasingly competitive landscape.”
European expansion
The announcement follows Fressnapf’s recent acquisition of Arcaplanet, significantly expanding its European footprint with 560 new stores.
This move is expected to contribute more than €700 million ($736.7M) to Fressnapf’s annual revenue, positioning the company to achieve a projected turnover of €4.8 billion ($5.1B) by the end of 2024, with final turnover figures for the full financial year having yet to be officially published.
Fressnapf Group is targeting a 10% annual revenue increase by 2026 and aims to strengthen its presence across existing and new markets. The Krefeld-headquartered company operates 2,600 locations across 14 countries.
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