Zalando
Leadership History
2 leaders · 2008 to present
Robert Gentz, David Schneider is the CEO of Zalando, in the role since 2008.
| Name | Role | From | To | Years in role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Gentz | Co-founder & Co-CEO | 2008 | Present | 18 |
| David Schneider | Co-founder & Co-CEO | 2008 | Present | 18 |
Zalando reports two segments. B2C covers the Zalando, ABOUT YOU and Lounge by Zalando apps. There it earns money from goods it buys and resells itself (wholesale), from commissions in its partner programme where brands sell directly to Zalando customers, and from retail media sold through Zalando Marketing Services. B2C produced about $12.8 billion (€11.3 billion) of revenue in 2025. B2B (about $1.24 billion (€1.1 billion) in 2025) sells ZEOS fulfilment and logistics to brands for orders on and off the Zalando platform, along with SCAYLE commerce software. In Q2 2026 the partner business made up 36.9% of Zalando's stand-alone B2C GMV.
Co-founder & Co-CEO
2008 – Present
18 years (current)
Co-founded Zalando, led it through the 2014 IPO and 2021 DAX inclusion, and presented the ABOUT YOU integration and AI strategy at the 2025 and 2026 results.
Founder-led management of Zalando for its whole history.
Co-founder & Co-CEO
2008 – Present
18 years (current)
Schneider orchestrated the highly strategic, massive transition from a simple retailer into a 'platform' business, aggressively allowing third-party fashion brands to sell directly on Zalando using its logistics network.
As Co-Founder and Co-CEO, he drives the absolute core brand relationships and highly lucrative expansion into premium luxury fashion segments.
These officers report to the chief executive and are not part of the CEO timeline above.
Zalando competes for discretionary fashion spending against Amazon, store-based chains such as Inditex, brands' own online shops and low-price cross-border platforms such as Shein and Temu. Returns are costly in fashion e-commerce. Pro forma growth after the ABOUT YOU deal stayed in the mid-single digits in H1 2026, and in August 2026 management narrowed its revenue growth guidance to the lower half of the 12–17% range, citing softer sneaker demand among other factors. Merging ABOUT YOU and reshaping the logistics network carry execution risk.
Zalando operates under a dual-CEO structure led by its co-founders Robert Gentz and David Schneider, who have served as co-CEOs since founding the business in 2008.
Robert Gentz oversees corporate strategy, finance, technology, and B2B logistics infrastructure, while David Schneider leads brand partnerships, consumer marketing, and merchandising.
Rubin Ritter joined as co-CEO in 2010 alongside Gentz and Schneider, playing a pivotal role in scaling operations, leading the 2014 IPO, and serving until stepping down in 2021.
Ritter announced his early retirement in late 2020 to prioritize his growing family and support his wife's professional career aspirations, a high-profile move celebrated across European business.
Robert Gentz, David Schneider, and Rubin Ritter all studied business administration together at the prestigious WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management in Vallendar, Germany.
Sandra Dembeck served as CFO from 2022 to 2024; Astrid Arndt (Chief People Officer) and David Schröder (Chief Operating Officer) round out the executive Management Board.
The co-CEOs instituted workforce streamlining, restructured warehouse capital projects, and launched the ZEOS B2B initiative, returning the company to solid operating margin expansion.
Gentz and Schneider aim to capture over 10% of the €450 billion European fashion market by establishing Zalando as the definitive consumer fashion destination and B2B logistics spine.
Compare executive leadership tenures and strategic transitions
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