Americanas announced this Friday (19) the first change in command of the retail company in two decades, choosing the former president of Santander Brasil Sergio Rial to lead the group from the beginning of next year.
Rial will replace Miguel Gutierrez, who has been with Americanas for almost 30 years, Americanas said in a statement to the market.
In addition to being chairman of the board of directors of Santander Brasil, Rial also occupies the same position in the Vibra gas station network, also accumulating the vice-chairmanship of the board of directors of BRF, owners of the Sadia and Perdigão brands.
According to the retailer, Rial’s choice is the result of a “months process” of work for Gutierrez’s succession. The company stated that the process “allowed a careful evaluation of several qualified professionals”.
In the opinion of consultant Eugênio Foganholo, the exchange does not make much sense considering the needs of Americanas at the moment.
“The company needs someone who has strong retail knowledge, as the marketplace ‘war’ is just beginning and will escalate even further in the near future,” he says. “It is a segment that has undergone major and relevant transformations.”
Foganholo recognizes Rial’s talent for finance. “But for a long time Americanas needs people with retail blood, a deep renovation in the command posts.”
The succession comes at a time when the company has consolidated physical stores with its online sales operation, in addition to fintech Ame and other initiatives focused on creating an omnichannel ecosystem.
In July, the retailer saw consistent sales growth in its brick-and-mortar stores, while in-store digital operations kept demand subdued, a company director said.
The domestic market, however, has seen accelerated growth from international retail groups, including AliExpress and Shopee, which this week announced that second-quarter revenue grew 270% year-on-year.
Americanas closed the second quarter of this year with 1,018 traditional stores and 788 Americanas Express. In the period, it recorded a net loss of R$97.9 million, a loss 15.6% higher than a year earlier, strongly impacted by the financial result.
“We believe that this succession movement will reinforce the company’s strategy of growth with profitability,” said Americanas.
(With Reuters)
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