What: The Netherlands' iconic department store chain, De Bijenkorf, appoints a new CEO.

Why it is important: De Bijenkorf aims to become a significant luxury player in the country in the years to come.

Matthijs Visch has been appointed the new CEO of de Bijenkorf, taking over from Giovanni Colauto this Friday. Colauto, who served as the CEO since 2012 and was with the company since 2001, led significant changes including the optimization of the store portfolio, notably closing five of the 12 branches in 2013. The remaining stores are in major Dutch cities, alongside an active webshop.

Visch joins de Bijenkorf from Patagonia, where he was the director of European operations for two years, bringing with him a strong background in sustainability. Before Patagonia, he held a key role at Nike as the general manager for Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. André Maeder, CEO of the Selfridges Group which owns de Bijenkorf, expressed his satisfaction with Visch’s appointment and acknowledged Colauto’s impactful contributions to the company. De Bijenkorf has also shifted its focus towards luxury retailing, a strategy initiated during Colauto's tenure.

De Bijenkorf appoints a new CEO