Finance
Ceconomy supervisory board to meet March 12 to discuss next steps, departing CEO says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 6, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 6, 2026
Quick Summary
Ceconomy’s CEO, Kai‑Ulrich Deissner, announced the supervisory board will meet on March 12 to determine next steps amid his upcoming departure and pending takeover by JD.com, expected to close in H1 2026 with regulatory approvals.
Ceconomy to propose CFO Remko Rijnders to replace outgoing CEO
Leadership Transition and Strategic Developments at Ceconomy
Announcement of CEO Succession
BERLIN, March 6 (Reuters) - Ceconomy said on Friday that it would propose Chief Financial Officer Remko Rijnders to replace Kai-Ulrich Deissner as the company's chief executive.
Background on Kai-Ulrich Deissner's Departure
The German electronics retailer said earlier on Friday that Deissner, who only took over as CEO last year, was stepping down for personal reasons. Deissner told Reuters in an interview that the supervisory board was set to meet on Thursday to discuss his succession.
Deissner's Tenure at Ceconomy
Deissner served as chief financial officer at Ceconomy since February 2023 before being appointed to the CEO role in May 2025. Rijnders took his place as CFO at the time.
Ceconomy's Acquisition by JD.com
Ceconomy is about to be taken over by Chinese tech group JD.com.
Regulatory Approval and Support
Deissner, who has supported the takeover by JD.com, said regulatory approval of the acquisition was expected in the first half of this year.
Strategic Benefits from JD.com
Ceconomy, which owns the MediaMarkt and Saturn electronics retail chains, aims to benefit from JD.com particularly in the areas of logistics and technology.
(Reporting by Matthias Inverardi, writing by Linda Pasquini, editing by Miranda Murray)
Key Takeaways
- •Ceconomy’s supervisory board meets March 12 to chart path forward following CEO’s announced departure.
- •JD.com has secured c. 59.8% of Ceconomy via its takeover offer and aims to close the deal in the first half of 2026, pending foreign investment and EU clearance.
- •MediaMarkt and Saturn benefit from JD.com’s logistics and tech prowess; Spain led Ceconomy’s strong growth in 2025, boosting its appeal ahead of the deal.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ceconomy supervisory board to meet March 12 to discuss next steps, departing CEO says
1Why is Ceconomy's CEO stepping down?
Ceconomy CEO Kai-Ulrich Deissner is stepping down this year for personal reasons.
2When will Ceconomy’s supervisory board meet to discuss the next steps?
Ceconomy's supervisory board will meet on March 12 to discuss the next steps.
3Who is acquiring Ceconomy?
Ceconomy is set to be taken over by Chinese tech group JD.com.
4When is regulatory approval for the JD.com acquisition expected?
Regulatory approval of the JD.com acquisition is expected in the first half of this year.
5Which retail chains does Ceconomy own?
Ceconomy owns the MediaMarkt and Saturn electronics retail chains.