Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder joins board of Russian hypermarket chain Globus

Gerhard Schröder, the former chancellor of Germany, has joined the supervisory board of Hyperglobus LLC, which runs the Russian Globus hypermarket chain. Thomas Bruch, the company's owner, said Schröder was chosen for his deep political and economic ties to Russia, expecting him to help steer the business strategically. Schröder is expected to promote a dialogue-oriented stance and seek constructive outcomes in the present context.

Globus continues to operate in Russia, maintaining 22 stores in eight regions, making it one of the few foreign retailers still present after the war began. Other foreign chains such as Metro Cash & Carry, Auchan and Leroy Merlin also remain, though recent Russian decrees placed their legal entities under temporary administration. Schröder has kept close contacts with President Vladimir Putin, meeting him in Moscow in July 2022 and being named a preferred mediator in Russia-Ukraine talks in May 2026.