Slovenian retailer Mercator has appointed Toni Balažic as CEO, replacing Ziga Debeljak, who resigned in March amid disagreement with the owners of the company.

Balažic will start his role on 1 June for a five-year term. The announcement comes after the board’s fifth meeting held today (18 May). Debeljak will remain an advisor to the president of the management board until 30 September.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

In March, Debeljak and the rest of Mercator’s management board, which has operations across the Balkans, resigned.

The board and the owners of Mercator fell out over plans, which eventually came to nothing, to sell the the retailer to Croatian retailer Agrokor. Mercator’s management opposed plans to sell the business to Agrokor. In November, they cited concerns over the involvement of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Agrokor dropped its bid in February.

Just Food Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Food Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving food industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now