Esselunga: Claude Sarrailh new CEO and general manager from November

As of early November 2026, Claude Sarrailh will take over as CEO and general manager of Esselunga. Gabriele Villa, the current general manager and a historical figure in the company, will leave the company in view of retirement after a long career at Esselunga "marked by a significant contribution and a long and relevant experience", the group announced. Claude Sarrailh, currently ceo of Ahold Delhaize for Europe and Indonesia, is at the helm of an organisation with approximately EUR 40 billion in turnover and 160,000 employees. An international manager with 30 years of experience in retail business, he was ceo of Metro Italy from 2014 to 2018 and ceo of Metro China from 2018 to 2021.

"We have chosen a manager with deep international retail experience, capable of combining vision and operational concreteness," comments Marina Caprotti, Esselunga's executive chairman. "His knowledge of global markets, combined with a strong drive towards innovation and efficiency, is a key element in facing an increasingly competitive context". For the new ceo, Claude Sarrailh, Esselunga "represents an icon of Italian retail, with a strong identity and a unique position in the market". He added: "I look forward to working with the people of the company to further enhance their skills and build on this solid foundation, continuing to strengthen performance and accompanying Esselunga in its next phase of development".