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Ex-Müller boss
Günther Helm
Photo: G. Nitschke / BrauerPhotos
The Austrian real estate magnate
René Benko
(45) is looking for additional staff for his trading business.
After the two bankruptcies of his department store chain Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof, the pressure on the billionaire to reorganize his Signa Holding is increasing.
According to insiders, some Signa investors are pushing for fresh impetus and changes in management, and the shareholders are meeting in London at the end of January.
Benko's compatriot Günther Helm
(43)
could remedy the situation.
Helm was most recently in the service of the drugstore chain Müller, which was able to significantly increase earnings under his leadership.
Previously, Helm had made a career at Aldi in a hurry.
According to information from manager magazin, negotiations are currently underway between the Austrians, who also know each other very well privately.
After initial talks in December, the parties are now said to be very close to an agreement, even though Helm apparently has other attractive offers, including from the USA.
If Benko prevails, Helm Signas should trade boss
Dieter Berninghaus
(57), under whose aegis the division has grown strongly through numerous acquisitions, including the luxury department store chain Selfridges, the interiors specialists Kika/Leiner and the online retailer Signa Sports United.
While the business with the posh department stores, which Signa operates together with the Thai Central Group, is running successfully, problems are piling up at some of the subsidiaries.
Sports United lost massively in value after going public via a Spac deal at the end of 2021.
Berninghaus recently assumed the position of chairman at Selfridgeds.
With the acquisition of the Canadian family Weston, Benko has come closer to his goal of forging one, if not the world's, leading provider of luxury department stores together with the Central Group.