carole walker

Carole Walker will step down from her role as CEO of Hermes Europe and take early retirement this summer.

It is a decision Walker said she made a long time ago, but felt the timing was now right to announce.

From 1 March, Kay Schiebur, Otto Group executive board member services, will assume some of her responsibilities.

“Everyone who knows me is aware just how much Hermes means to me, and that the decision I took was by no means an easy one,” said Walker.

“But I know that this is now the right step for me personally, to begin a new chapter in my life,” she added.

Walker joined the Otto Group 31 years ago as a graduate.

Her first posts were at the British mail-order company Grattan, in customer services and warehousing.

In 2001 she was named Hermes UK (hitherto Parcelnet) operations director; in 2004 she became MD and then in 2009 CEO of Hermes UK.

Walker was promoted In November 2017 to the role of CEO Hermes Europe, working to help shape the reorganisation of the Hermes Group.

“I am deeply proud of what the teams I have worked in have achieved – namely developing and building the Hermes Group into what it is today”, said Walker.

“We naturally respect Carole’s personal plans,” said Schiebur. “At the same time we very much regret her decision. After all, in her many years working for Hermes Carole has achieved extraordinary successes.

“Her tremendous specialist expertise, and not least her strong personality as a leader, have enabled her to develop the company very successfully and play a major role in shaping it.

“I thank her most warmly for this, also on behalf of the whole Otto Group executive board,” he added.

Following Walker’s departure from the company, the CEO role at Hermes Europe will not be reassigned, with all companies reporting directly to Schiebur.

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