DIA CorporateIn the news

DIA has notified the regulatory body of the appointment of its new CEO: Antonio Coto, a director with over 30 years’ experience within the DIA Group.

The Company is immersed in a profound process of transformation after closing a demanding period that started with its initial public offering, and during which, several corporate operations have occurred with significant acquisitions and remodelling of stores, development of e-commerce, an ambitious plan of digital transformation and the implementation of new business models.

As was already announced at the General Shareholder Meeting held last April 26, the company considers itself to be at the end of a cycle that should lead to new plans that guarantee future success. With the objective of undertaking the new challenges that the retail market presents and adapting to the new consumer demands, DIA Group has actively worked for months on a new strategic plan that will be presented next fall period.

Antonio Coto, the new CEO, will be responsible for leading DIA Group into this new phase. He is one of DIA Group’s most experienced directors, leading till the date the Group’s operations in Argentina and Brazil since its beginnings.

The Chairwoman of the Board of Directors Ana María LLopis welcomed the new CEO to DIA: “I would like to welcome as the new Executive Director of DIA Group, Antonio Coto, whom I have known for over 8 years and highly value as a professional in the sector. I have all the confidence that he will know how to bring the new strategy to fruition in light of the new challenges that we have ahead, and will take over the team that knows him and respects him, because previously, he was focused on identifying talent in his region.

In addition to his extensive business experience at DIA, Antonio has a strong combination of financial and international experience, making the business grow in Argentina and Brazil, and which still has high growth potential. Besides, he has demonstrated in his region a strong focus on customers and the success of this management and support for Marketing has been proven by the group of savings experts in Argentina. He has also been very active in participating in Iberoamerican institutional initiatives in the sector.”

Antonio Coto has vast knowledge of the retail sector at the international level, as well as franchising and master franchising models. His trajectory of success at DIA, his leadership style, his proven management capacities, and his enthusiastic and motivational professional profile warrant his nomination.

Appreciation of Ricardo Currás

DIA’s Board of Directors has also expressed its deep gratitude for the extraordinary work by Ricardo Currás on DIA’s executive team. During his 32 years of dedication to the company, Ricardo Currás has contributed to and has been responsible for the evolution of a unique model of success. Without his contribution, effort and commitment, the company’s success story would be unimaginable.

The Board Chairwoman referred to him with the following terms: “On behalf of the Board of Directors and myself personally, I would like to thank Ricardo Currás for his dedication during his more than 10 years as the Company’s Executive Director and his contribution to DIA for making it into what it is today; a leading distribution company in terms of proximity and prices with more than 65,000 employees of which 42,000 are direct employees and the rest are indirect, through which more than 3,000 entrepreneurs that direct our franchises and that serves more than 20 million customers with 70% of purchases through the loyalty club.

Since we started to work together with the initial public offering in 2011, Ricardo has demonstrated his vast knowledge of the sector, passion and enthusiasm for making the company grow and a strong leadership of the group’s teams. Purchases have been made during this period, such as El Árbol, Schlecker and its later transformation to Clarel, becoming part of the organization. In addition, new product lines have been launched, such as Bonté and Delicious, in addition to new formats like La Plaza de DIA and the DIA’s online business, creating employment and training top-level professionals.

In other vectors of his more institutional management, he introduced a commitment to women and the equality plan, in addition to projects of corporate responsibility and support for sports, particularly women’s basketball, and sponsorship for the Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases”.