Kaufland to Appoint Bojan Luncer to Board
The veteran retail executive will oversee international operations for the company beginning on 1 November 2026.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Business Strategy
Live Poll
Do you trust major retail chains to maintain consistent quality when changing their corporate leadership?
Retailer Kaufland has named industry veteran Bojan Luncer to its executive board to lead international operations. Luncer will assume the position on 1 November 2026, filling a vacancy that has existed since January 2026.
Why it matters
This appointment signals a shift in leadership for Kaufland as the company seeks to manage growth across its seven international markets. Luncer brings significant experience from his previous leadership roles at Lidl and Real to help guide the retail chain's expansion strategy.
Bojan Luncer will oversee operations across 7 international markets, including Poland, Romania, Czechia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Croatia, and the Republic of Moldova. The vacancy he is filling has remained open since January 2026.
The players
Bojan Luncer
A seasoned retail executive, he previously led the retailer Real and held significant management positions within the Lidl international organization.
Kaufland
An international hypermarket chain based in Germany that operates numerous retail locations across Europe.
Ivan Chernev
He continues to serve as the CEO of Kaufland Germany while the company adjusts its executive leadership board.
The details
Bojan Luncer previously served as CEO of Real from 2020 to 2024 and played a key role in establishing Lidl in Croatia in 2002. His leadership experience also includes serving on Lidl's international management board from 2009 to 2017.
Timeline
Bojan Luncer helped establish Lidl in Croatia in 2002.
Luncer served as CEO of Lidl Croatia beginning in 2006.
Luncer served on Lidl's international management board from 2009 to 2017.
Luncer served as CEO of Real from 2020 to 2024.
Luncer begins his new role at Kaufland on 1 November 2026.
Market Landscape
The appointment follows a governance pattern established by the 2009-2017 Lidl international management board. By recruiting experienced leadership, Kaufland positions itself to maintain competitive standing against other regional hypermarket chains.
Customers in markets such as Poland, Romania, and Croatia may see shifts in operational strategy as the new board member takes over. These changes are designed to streamline store management and support ongoing growth in these regions.
The takeaway
Kaufland is strengthening its executive oversight to navigate the complexities of managing retail operations across diverse European markets. Having a veteran leader like Luncer provides stability as the organization continues to refine its international business model.
Further reading
For more on corporate leadership shifts, visit Business Strategy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Esmmagazine.
Live Poll
Do you trust major retail chains to maintain consistent quality when changing their corporate leadership?
