Sven Seidel has been named as the new CEO of Lidl International after the shock departure of chairman Karl-Heinz Holland last week.
Seidel, 40, has been with the Schwartz Group, owner of Lidl, for over three years as head of corporate development.
A company statement described him as “a highly experienced industry player”.
He started his career at Lidl's sister company, Kaufland, and went on to work in management consultancy, rising through the ranks to a senior executive position.
Lidl announced the new appointment following the abrupt departure of chairman Karl-Heinz Holland, due to “unbridgeable” future strategy differences.
In a statement, the UK’s second largest discounter said that Karl-Heinz Holland had “differing views concerning the future strategy of the business”.
There has also been reports in the German media that Dawid Jaschok, head of buying and marketing at Lidl, has also left for the same reason, but FPJ was unable to confirm this with Lidl.
Holland had worked at the company for 23 years, including 12 years on the board and five years as chairman.
Lidl has a 3.2 per cent share of the UK grocery retail market, just behind Aldi with 4.3 per cent, according to Kantar Worldpanel figures for the 12 weeks to 2 March 2014.
