Lidl GB announces new CEO as Christian Härtnagel moves to Lidl Germany to take helm as CEO

• Deputy CEO Ryan McDonnell promoted to CEO of Lidl GB 
• Härtnagel will start in his new role at Lidl Germany on 1^st March 2022 and McDonnell will start in his new role on 1^st February 2022

Lidl GB is today announcing that current CEO Christian Härtnagel will be moving to the role of CEO at Lidl Germany, the largest of the Lidl businesses, with current Deputy CEO Ryan McDonnell promoted to Lidl GB CEO. Härtnagel will start in his new role on 1st March 2022 and McDonnell on 1^st February.

Härtnagel has been CEO of Lidl GB for more than five years, having been promoted from the role of Chief Operations Officer for Lidl Austria, where he was responsible for sales and operations.  He has been with Lidl for over 18 years, holding a variety of roles during his tenure including Regional Director at Lidl Ireland. Härtnagel replaces current Lidl Germany CEO and Member of Lidl’s International Board, Matthias Oppitz, who will take on a new international role on the Board.

McDonnell‘s career at Lidl extends over 21 years. The former Chief Commercial Officer of Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland moved to Lidl GB in the role of Chief Commercial Officer in 2015. He was promoted to Deputy CEO in 2021.

Christian Härtnagel said: “It feels special, both personally and professionally, to be given the opportunity to go back to the country where I started my career many years ago, and to take the helm of the biggest market in the Lidl family. I’ve worked closely with Ryan for some time and have every faith in his ability to lead Lidl in Great Britain, and to build on the team’s fantastic track record in recent years. I feel very proud to leave the company in such capable and safe hands. Ryan and I are focused on delivering the best Christmas ever for our customers.”

Ryan McDonnell said: “Christian hands over a business built on strong foundations and I’m incredibly excited to have the baton passed on to me. I have worked at Lidl GB now for over six years, during which time we have seen our store estate, colleague and customer numbers grow exponentially. We couldn’t be in a better place as a business and I feel privileged to be taking us forward from here.”