The Otto Group announces that effective 1 March 2026, Dr. Boris Ewenstein will become Chair of the Otto Management Board, succeeding Marc Opelt, who is retiring after 35 years of distinguished service.
© Otto Group
Dr. Boris Ewenstein is set to become the new Chair of the OTTO Management Board.
Dr. Ewenstein, 48, has led Otto's Retail and Marketplace segments since May 2024, driving product range innovation and profitable growth. From March 2026, his responsibilities will expand to include strategy and corporate communications, ensuring continuity and leadership in Otto's ongoing digital transformation.
Before joining Otto, Dr. Ewenstein served as Senior Vice President at Zalando SE and worked for over a decade at McKinsey & Company, focusing on organizational transformation projects.
Marc Opelt, 63, has been integral to Otto's evolution into Germany's largest shopping platform, overseeing twelve million active customers and 6,200 marketplace partners, achieving a gross merchandise volume of €7 billion in the 2024/25 financial year.
Dr. Marcus Ackermann, Executive Board Member for Multichannel Distance Selling, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Dr. Boris Ewenstein as Chair. His international experience and strategic vision will continue Otto's success and bring fresh impetus to areas such as AI commerce."
Prof. Dr. Michael Otto, Chair of the Foundation and Shareholders' Council, added: "Marc Opelt's commitment and expertise have been vital to Otto's transformation. We thank him sincerely for his extraordinary contribution and wish him the very best in retirement."
The Management Board will also be joined by a new member for Marketing, whose appointment will be announced shortly.
Otto also announced that it has ended its operations in the Netherlands after 46 years, citing insufficient economic prospects. Once a pioneer in catalog and telephone sales, Otto struggled to compete with Bol.com, Zalando, and platforms like Shein. Despite shifting fully online and temporary revenue growth, slow adaptation to market changes led to its closure.
More information:
Otto Group
www.ottogroup.com
