Since January 2005, Volker Kappel worked as an authorized signatory for the Cologne Schuh group and accompanied their operational structure during this time. With commitment, commercial know-how and feel for markets and people, he was a load-bearing pillar of the GMS for many years. He also got involved in strategic questions.
However, Volker Kappel not only brings extensive experience from the shoe industry: the studied business economist has already worked in various trade industry- among other things as head of product marketing at Kaufring AG, as a marketing manager of a company of EK Großaufchauf eG and as head of the press and public relations work of the Garant Schuh + Mode AG in Düsseldorf.
According to the group group, a milestone of his career at GMS was the co -development of the specialist concept “Boys & Girls”, which he helped to shape and promoted from the start. At the same time, Kappel was responsible for the care and further development of the classic shoe stores within the group group for many years.
Thomas Schulte-Huermann, Managing Director of GMS Verbund GmbH, appreciates Kappels as follows: “Volker Kappel has made an enormous contribution to the profiling of our group in the past twenty years. With his strategic foresight, his conceptual strength and his fine feeling for market trends, he shaped our company- far beyond the shoe industry. For his life and work, I thank him in the name of the entire team. – We wish him all the best for the new phase of life. “
However, Volker Kappel will not let go of the GMS completely: Even after his official resignation, he will remain connected to the company and will continue to help the group of associations as a consultant and bring his knowledge.
The successor of Volker Kappel succeeds Marco Vester, who changes from the delivery side to GMS and brings industry knowledge and shoe know-how. With his practical view and experience from an industrial perspective, he will develop the specialist concept “Boys & Girls” as well as the classic formats of the GMS evolutionarily and bring new impulses into the team, is convinced at GMS.