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Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has joined the supervisory board of Giperglobus LLC, the Russian operator of the Globus hypermarket chain. The appointment puts him in a governance role at a business that has continued operating in Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine; the company says he will advise on management and strategy.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has joined the supervisory board of Giperglobus LLC, the company that operates the Globus hypermarket chain in Russia. A chain spokesperson told RBC that Schröder will help manage the business and guide its strategic development, placing a former national leader with longstanding ties to Russia in a formal role at a German-linked retailer that has remained in the country during the war in Ukraine.
Giperglobus owner Thomas Bruch said the appointment would draw on Schröder’s experience in Russian political and economic affairs. Bruch said the former chancellor could help the company maintain an “approach focused on dialogue” and find constructive solutions under current circumstances. Those are the owner’s stated reasons for the appointment; the company has not publicly detailed specific duties or decisions Schröder will oversee.
RBC reported that Giperglobus operates 22 stores in eight Russian regions. The company finances its Russian operations with its own funds and shares shareholders and a brand with the German Globus chain, according to the report. The source material does not specify Schröder’s compensation, the length of his appointment or whether he will take on executive responsibilities beyond his supervisory-board role.
Globus is among a small group of foreign retailers that continued operating in Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, RBC reported. Metro Cash & Carry, Auchan and Lemana PRO, formerly Leroy Merlin, also continue to operate there. Their status has drawn additional attention after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees in September placing the Russian legal entities of those retailers under temporary management. The source report does not say that Giperglobus was among the entities covered by those decrees.
Schröder’s Role at a Continuing Retailer
The appointment connects a prominent German political figure to the governance of a company operating in Russia while the war continues and many Western businesses have left or reduced their presence there. It also gives Schröder a business role in a country where he has maintained relationships with President Vladimir Putin since leaving office. The appointment itself does not establish that he will act as a diplomatic intermediary or represent the German government.
For the retailer, the role comes amid uncertainty about foreign-owned companies’ ability to operate under Russian policy and legal conditions. Russia’s placement of some retailers’ local entities under temporary management shows that corporate control can be affected by state action. But the available reporting does not establish that this measure applies to Giperglobus or that the board appointment is connected to those decrees.
German Globus hypermarket shopping bag
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Schröder’s Continuing Russia Ties
After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Schröder retained his relationship with Putin and continued to visit Russia. In July 2022, he met Putin in Moscow and said a rift between them was impossible, according to the report. His ties to the Russian leader have remained relevant to European debate about contacts with Moscow.
In May 2026, Putin described Schröder as his “preferred” mediator for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. European governments refused to allow Moscow to choose its representative, the report said. In June 2026, the Kremlin again said the two men had met but provided no details about their conversation. These earlier developments provide context for the board appointment, but do not show that Schröder’s new position has a role in negotiations.
“The appointment would allow the company to draw on Schröder’s many years of experience in Russian political and economic affairs.”
— Globus owner Thomas Bruch
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The report does not state when Schröder’s appointment took effect, how long it will last, what compensation he may receive or what specific decisions fall within his remit. It is also unclear whether he will have a direct role in day-to-day management or focus on oversight and strategic advice.
The available information does not establish whether the appointment has any connection to Schröder’s past contacts with Putin or the proposed mediation role discussed in 2026. Nor does it confirm that Giperglobus is affected by the September temporary-management decrees involving other retailers. Further details from the company or Russian authorities have not been provided in the source report.
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Details Needed From the Company
The next developments to watch are any fuller account from Giperglobus of Schröder’s responsibilities and board mandate, and whether the company explains how his appointment will shape its operations in Russia. The source report does not identify a scheduled board meeting, a regulatory filing or another immediate milestone.
Any changes to the legal status or ownership arrangements of foreign retailers in Russia could also affect the wider operating environment. For now, the confirmed development is Schröder’s appointment to Giperglobus’s supervisory board; its practical consequences and any connection to broader political contacts remain unstated.
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Key Questions
What position has Gerhard Schröder taken?
He has joined the supervisory board of Giperglobus LLC, the operator of Globus hypermarkets in Russia. A chain spokesperson told RBC that he will help manage the business and guide its strategic development.
How many Globus stores does Giperglobus operate in Russia?
RBC reported that Giperglobus operates 22 stores across eight Russian regions.
Why did the company appoint Schröder?
Owner Thomas Bruch said the company would draw on Schröder’s experience in Russian political and economic affairs. Bruch also said he could help the business pursue dialogue and constructive solutions. The company has not set out specific assignments in the reporting available.
Is Giperglobus under temporary management by the Russian state?
The source report says September decrees placed the Russian legal entities of Metro Cash & Carry, Auchan and Lemana PRO under temporary management. It does not say that Giperglobus was covered by those decrees.
Will Schröder mediate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine?
The appointment is to a company supervisory board, not a confirmed diplomatic post. Putin called Schröder his preferred mediator in May 2026, but Europe rejected Moscow’s choice of representative, according to the report. No link between that episode and the board role has been established.
Source: rss
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