DIA Group appoints Antonio Coto as its new CEO
August 24, 2018
The new CEO brings a wealth experience within DIA Group, since he has to
date lead the company’s operations in strategic markets such as Brazil
and Argentina.
The principal challenge facing Antonio Coto will be to lead the transformation process which DIA Group is undergoing; this will be enshrined in a new strategic plan, to be unveiled shortly.
DIA’s Management Board has expressed its sincere gratitude for the work
carried out by Ricardo Currás, who has played a key role in the company’s
success over recent years.
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”.