New chief commercial officer for duty free operator Gebr Heinemann

Duty free operator Gebr Heinemann has announced that chief commercial officer, Kay Spanger, is retiring after more than 40 years with the Hamburg-based company.

Spanger, who will work as an advisor to the company from September until the end of the year, is to be replaced on the Executive Board of Gebr Heinemann by Dr Dirk Schneider.

“We are delighted that in Dirk Schneider we have been able to win an experienced manager with an international background for Gebr Heinemann,” says co-owner Claus Heinemann. “Dirk Schneider brings with him the right know-how, especially from s.Oliver and Amazon.”

The company admits that Spanger, a familiar and popular face in the industry who began his career at Heinemann as an apprentice in 1979, will be missed.

“Kay Spanger has helped shape Gebr Heinemann for over four decades and has made a very significant contribution to position us as a successful family business in a highly competitive market,” says a statement from owners, Claus and Gunnar Heinemann.

“We would like to thank him for his commitment, with which he has strongly influenced Gebr Heinemann as well as the travel retail industry.”

Gebr Heinemann CEO, Max Heinemann, says: “I am pleased that we are able to strengthen our Executive Board with Dirk Schneider. His experience with data-driven and digitalised processes in purchasing and logistics will help us to continue on the path we have already embarked on towards the future.

“The fact that Kay Spanger will be able to support Dirk Schneider during the last four months of this difficult year will also facilitate the transition after such a formative period. With Kay, a true symbolic figure of Gebr Heinemann, who has done a lot for our standing in the market, is leaving us.”