Discount retailer Lidl has confirmed the appointment of Frank-Michael Mros, the former managing director of its German operation, to the position of head of its UK division.
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Mros hit the headlines in April when he stepped down from his role in Germany, when allegations that the company was spying on its employees came to light.
He has replaced Marcel Oosterwijk, who recently returned to the Netherlands to take up the role of managing director at the retailer’s Holland operations.
A spokesperson for Lidl told just-food that the appointment of Mros was not likely to cause any controversy and insisted that the new managing director “stepped down” and was not dismissed.
“It was something that was jumped on by the media, which is unusual for Germany. It is a very different industry to the UK, they have a different way of operating. He wasn’t dismissed, he stepped down and it’s something we are very keen to get across,” the spokesperson said.
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By GlobalDataLidl was fined EUR1.5m (US$2.4m) when the company was found guilty of hiring private detectives and using hidden cameras to monitor staff.
Asked about the retailer’s expansion plans for the UK, the spokesperson said it will “keep going” as it has been.
“Since starting up in the UK 15 years ago, we have opened 530 stores, which averages out at 45 a year. We are just going to keep going at that rate. We are Britain’s biggest discount retailer. One of the major retailers recently had its knuckles rapped for claiming that. We are just going to keep doing what were doing as it seems to be working well.”
