AlixPartners executive to take helm of Lidl U.S.
Lidl US. is getting a new CEO — again.
Michal Lagunionek is departing as president and CEO of Lidl US, with the news first reported by German trade publication Lebensmittel Zeitung. The longtime Lidl executive was appointed to the position in June 2021, after holding European-based leadership roles in the company.
Joel Rampoldt will succeed Lagunionek as CEO of Lidl U.S., effective in September, with the appointment confirmed by Chain Store Age sister publication Progressive Grocer. He will join the company from AlixPartners, where he serves as partner and managing director.
Prior to joining AlixPartners in 2018, Rampoldt was a principal at KPMG, from 2015 to 2018. Before that, he was a partner at Oliver Wyman. He held leadership roles at marketing services company Digitas and AT&T.
On his LinkedIn page, Rampoldt said he advises retailers and wholesalers on how to drive sales and margin improvement by focusing on their key commercial levers: assortment, pricing, promotions, localization, freshness, trade partner negotiations and own brand.
“Working closely with executives and store associates, I help clients execute complex transformational programs,” Rampoldt continued. “I specialize in programs where profit improvement is reinvested to drive top-line sales. I have a track record in achieving positive financial outcomes in comp sales, gross margin, cost of goods sold, distribution costs and shrink. “
Rampoldt will be the fourth CEO since the company established its U.S. headquarters in June 2015. The first was Brendan Proctor, who served as CEO from 2015 to 2018 and currently is CEO of Red Apple Stores. He was succeeded by Johannes Fieber, who spend three years in the role, leaving to spend more time with his family and was succeeded by Lagunionek.
The leadership change comes as Lidl continues to expand its U.S. footprint, including in the New York City market
Lidl has more than 12,000 stores and is active in 32 countries, including more than 170 U.S. stores across nine East Coast states and Washington, D.C.