CECONOMY AG, parent company of MediaMarktSaturn, has realigned its Management Board with the appointment of Virpy Richter as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The appointment is effective from 1 January 2027. Virpy Richter will be responsible for the finance department, thereby complementing the company's executive management. This personnel decision marks the completion of the Management Board's structural reform initiated in the spring.
Remko Rijnders, who temporarily headed the finance department during a transitional phase, can now fully concentrate on the strategic and operational management of CECONOMY and MediaMarktSaturn following this new appointment. In April of this year, Jan Niclas Brandt was already appointed to the Management Board as Chief Customer Officer to strengthen the focus on customer needs and complement the management team.
International Expertise for Corporate Development
Christoph Vilanek, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of CECONOMY AG, emphasised the significance of the new appointment. He stated that Virpy Richter is an internationally experienced finance manager who combines extensive financial expertise with a deep understanding of digital business models, e-commerce, and retail. Her experience in phases of growth and transformation is regarded as a valuable addition for the company's upcoming development phase.
Remko Rijnders, CEO of CECONOMY AG, highlighted that Virpy Richter brings comprehensive experience from international retail and technology companies and will significantly support strategic development. Together with Jan Niclas Brandt and the entire leadership team, the strategic priorities will continue to be pursued, which include profitable growth, strong operational execution, and trust at all relevant customer touchpoints.
Virpy Richter herself expressed her delight at the new role. She sees CECONOMY and MediaMarktSaturn as companies with strong brands, dedicated teams, and a clear strategic direction. She stressed that sustainable value creation arises where financial strength, operational execution, and relevance for customers converge. This creates the foundation for long-term trust among customers, employees, and investors.
Background of the New CFO's Experience
Virpy Richter has over 25 years of experience in senior finance and management roles. Most recently, she was CFO of Awin AG, an international affiliate marketing company, since July 2019. Prior to that, she served as Managing Director for the Conrad Electronic Group from November 2015 to June 2019.
- —Nearly 15 years at myToys.de in various leadership functions, including CFO and Managing Director for the Russian business.
- —Commercial Managing Director at Herlitz Benelux.
- —Positions in Portfolio Management and international investment controlling at Herlitz PBS AG.
The current Management Board structure of CECONOMY and MediaMarktSaturn now combines diverse complementary competencies. Remko Rijnders, as CEO, brings his 18 years of company affiliation and experience in finance, operations, and international markets. Jan Niclas Brandt, as Chief Customer Officer, focuses on customer relevance and digital functions from marketplace to services & solutions, and customer experience & care. Virpy Richter strengthens financial management with her international financial expertise. The entire Management Board team is tasked with driving the next phase of profitable growth.
