Claus-Dietrich Lahrs and Gil Steyaert will run for the Supervisory Board of Mister Spex SE
- 29. Apr. 2024
Claus-Dietrich Lahrs (60), an accomplished executive with an international career in luxury and fashion groups, is running for the Supervisory Board of Mister Spex SE. His nomination is endorsed by the current Supervisory Board. It is intended that, if elected, he will serve as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. With a background in business administration Lahrs held senior management positions at Cartier and Louis Vuitton in Northern Europe before he became President and CEO with Louis Vuitton in North America. At Christian Dior Couture he was Managing Director for the global business. As CEO and Chairman of Hugo Boss AG Lahrs steered the global expansion of the brand from 2008 till 2016 before he moved to Bottega Veneta as CEO where he successfully managed to bring new growth momentum to the brand, a member of Kering group. As Chairman of the Management Board at s.Oliver Group from 2019 till 2022 Lahrs orchestrated a restructuring program in a challenging moment for the fashion industry. With his long-term membership in the supervisory boards of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics SE and Ravensburger AG Lahrs brings a rich experience in corporate governance.
Gil Steyaert (61) is also running for a Supervisory Board position and if elected, he will become Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board. His nomination is also endorsed by the current Supervisory Board. Originally from France, Gil brings a wealth of experience in the sports, fashion, and lifestyle sectors. After a decade at the Kellogg Company, most recently as Vice President and Marketing Director for the French-speaking region, Gil joined adidas in 1999 as Managing Director for the French market. For over 20 years, Gil played a pivotal role in the brand’s European success in various capacities. Notably, he was also responsible for the Adidas’s presence at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. His tenure as Managing Director for Western Europe saw a remarkable sales increase of over 50%, earning him a seat at the Adidas Management Board as COO Global Operations in 2017. Since 2019, Gil has been a Senior Advisor for the international management consultancy Simon Kucher, focusing on transformation projects for brand companies. Additionally, he serves as a Director of the Board for Velcro Companies as a Non Executive Director. Velcro being a global leader of the fastening hook and loop solutions.
Claus-Dietrich Lahrs and Gil Steyaert will stand for election at this year’s Annual General Meeting of Mister Spex SE on June 7th in Berlin, succeeding the previous Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Peter Williams, and Stuart Paterson, who are both not seeking re-election. Alongside Nicole Srock.Stanley, Birgit Kretschmer, Pietro Luigi Longo, and Nicola Brandolese, four members of the seven-member Supervisory Board are also standing for re-election. Additionally, Tobias Krauss has been already elected until 2026.
“We would like to thank Peter Williams and Stuart Paterson for their unwavering dedication, expertise and vision in advising the management of Mister Spex. Their invaluable contribution and constructive collaborations over the past years have been truly commendable”, explains Dirk Graber, CEO of Mister Spex. “With Claus-Dietrich Lahrs and Gil Steyaert, we have found two candidates for the Supervisory Board who will bring remarkable expertise in the retail and fashion markets. We trust that the Annual General Meeting will endorse the election proposals put forth by Supervisory Board, and we will be able to welcome both candidates to Mister Spex in June.”
Peter Williams, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Mister Spex, underscores: “After over a decade as Chairman at Mister Spex, during which the company has established itself as a leading omnichannel optician in Europe, I believe it is time for me to retire from the board. It has been a highlight of my career to work with the Mister Spex team. With their significant fashion retail experience, I am confident that Claus-Dietrich and Gil will bring valuable new perspectives to the Supervisory Board.”
Contact details for journalists:
Mister Spex Corporate Communication
press@misterspex.de
About Mister Spex:
Mister Spex is one of Germany’s leading optical retailers, distinguished by its seamless integration of online and offline presence, innovative technologies, a comprehensive product range, and exceptional customer service. Since its founding in 2007, Mister Spex has evolved from a pure online player to a successful omnichannel optician with more than 8 million customers and 10 online shops across Europe, as well as brick-and-mortar retail stores. Mister Spex employs over 120 highly qualified opticians who ensure top-notch optical services in their stores. As a digital native, technology and innovation have always been central to the company’s development. Utilizing advanced technologies such as digital 2D-to-3D tools for frame adjustment and intelligent browsing functionalities, Mister Spex sets new standards in the optics industry, offering extraordinary value to its customers. Mister Spex focuses on making the eyewear purchasing experience unique, simple, transparent, and enjoyable, combining a wide and diverse range of high-quality products with extensive optical expertise and advice through customer service, its own stores, and an extensive network of partner opticians.
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