DIA Group appoints Luisa Delgado as Independent Director

Madrid, 29 April 2021. DIA Group’s Board of Directors has approved the appointment of Luisa Delgado as Independent Director. This appointment strengthens the company’s governing body with an international, team management and entrepreneurial-oriented background to continue driving the company’s roadmap forward.

Luisa Delgado has over 30 years of leadership and management experience at companies such as Procter & Gamble, where she was CEO of the Nordic region, and prior to that Head of Human Resources for Western Europe (17 countries). She also led SAP’s Human Resources division where she was an Executive Board Member. From 2013 to 2018, she was CEO of Safilo Group, the world’s second largest premium eyewear group. Subsequently, she created her own investment fund focused on luxury products and today, Luisa Delgado is a board member at various companies, including Ingka Holding (IKEA Group) and AO World, a consumer electronics company.  

“DIA is undoubtedly one of the most interesting challenges in the food distribution industry at the moment. As a board member, I want to help drive the roadmap forward with my experience in diverse, multicultural teams with a clear customer and people-centred approach,” says Luisa Delgado. 

“This appointment will strengthen the board and bring more diverse know-how and expertise that will enrich and add value to the company. Luisa Delgado’s track record in leading and managing large teams in the consumer goods and IT sectors will help us position DIA as an industry leader in the markets we operate in,” said Stephan DuCharme, Executive Chairman of the DIA Group. 

Luisa Delgado’s professional background

Luisa Delgado currently manages her own investment fund while also sitting on various boards, including: 

• INGKA HOLDING (IKEA GROUP): member of the Supervisory Board (since 2012). 
• SCHLEICH GMBH / Partners Group, Germany: Executive Chair of the Board (since 2019).
• AO WORLD PLC, UK: Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit Committee (since 2019).
• BARCLAYS BANK SWITZERLAND SA (Private banking): Director (since 2019) and Vice-Chair of the Board (since 2020).
• TELIA COMPANY: has recently become a board member.  

From 2013 to 2018 she was CEO at Safilo Group, where she led the strategic transformation plan. A year earlier (2012 – 2013), she was global head of Human Resources at SAP and executive board member, where she led a cultural transformation. From 1991 to 2012, she advanced her career at Procter & Gamble in various countries, including Portugal, the United Kingdom and Belgium, rising up the ranks until she became CEO of the Nordic region, as well as head of Human Resources for Western Europe.  

Luisa Delgado holds a law degree from the University of Geneva, an LLM from Kings College, University of London and a postgraduate degree in European Studies from Lusíada University in Lisbon. She is fluent in seven languages. She is a dual citizen of Portugal and Switzerland.