CEO of retailer Zalando resigns to prioritize wife's career

chief executive of online fashion retailer Zalando is stepping down to focus on his family, saying his wife's career should “take priority” in coming years. Rubin Ritter, one of three co-chief executives at Zalando, has been in job since 2010. Tasked with overseeing strategy and communications, 38-year-old helped turn Berlin-based start-up from into one of world's top online fashion retailers with 14,000 employees and net profit of almost 100 million euros ($121 million) in 2019.

In a statement, Zalando said Ritter h informed company Sunday of his decision to step down in 2021, more than two years before his contract ends.

“I feel that it is time to give my life a new direction," Ritter was quoted as saying. “I want to devote more time to my growing family,” he ded. “My wife and I have agreed that for coming years, her professional ambitions should take priority.”

he of Zalando's supervisory board, Cristina Stenbeck, said company regretted Ritter's decision but “we have highest respect for underlying personal motivation.” Last month, Ritter published company's first report on diversity and inclusion, saying se should be seen as “an opportunity rar than a challenge.” company has been criticized for currently having only men on its five-member manment board.

Im: ecotextile.com