Rolf Schumann leaves Schwarz Digits
Schwarz Group and one of the Co-CEOs of Schwarz Digits are parting ways with immediate effect. Rolf Schumann has left the company after seven years. Christian Müller, previously also a Co-CEO, is taking sole overall responsibility for the Schwarz Group’s digital division.
The company has announced that Rolf Schumann is leaving “by mutual agreement”. Schwarz Group has not given a specific reason for his departure. The retail giant merely states that the consolidated overall responsibility will continue to drive the division’s strategic focus. Since March 2026, Schwarz Digits has been bringing all its units together under a single brand. Schwarz Group aims to integrate the division’s strengths more closely through this move.
Rolf Schumann joined Schwarz Group in 2019 as Chief Digital Officer and was appointed to the Executive Board in 2020. Together with Christian Müller, then Chief Information Officer, he drove forward the company’s digitalisation.
Loyalty programmes: a key milestone
Schwarz Group cites Lidl Plus and the Kaufland Card as key milestones in this collaboration. These loyalty programmes have been rolled out internationally and are now used by more than 100 million customers. The company also highlights the acquisition and integration of XM Cyber and investments in AI.
Under the joint leadership of Rolf Schumann and Christian Müller, Schwarz Group has sought to establish itself as an IT provider for other corporations, with the aim of achieving digital independence for Europe. To this end, the two co-CEOs have forged close ties with the political sphere and have also appeared personally in advertising campaigns.
Costly acquisitions
Schwarz Group expressly thanks Rolf Schumann for his work. Gerd Chrzankowski, general partner of the Schwarz Group companies, explains: “We would like to thank Rolf Schumann for his outstanding performance over the last seven years. The Co-CEOs have done an excellent job. Christian Müller will make perfect use of the foundation they have built together to lead Schwarz Digits into its next phase of growth.”
However, according to Lebensmittel Zeitung, there was also internal criticism of high-priced acquisitions. According to the report, well over 1 billion euros has been spent on acquisitions, whilst the Schwarz Group has invested several billion euros in expanding the division. Insiders have confirmed to Lebensmittel Zeitung, however, that the figures regarding the outsourcing of IT to external companies have so far failed to convince.
