Schwarz Group becomes part of the Academic Society
We are pleased to share that the companies of Schwarz Group become part of the Academic Society and warmly welcome Susanne Marell, who joins our Corporate Advisory Board as a new member.
Susanne Marell is an enthusiastic communications executive with extensive expertise in the fields of transformation and sustainability. She has more than 30 years of experience in national and international companies and agencies.
Since the beginning of 2023, Susanne is the Executive Vice President of Schwarz Corporate Affairs. In this role, she has been the driving force behind the strategic direction in the fields of transformation and ecological responsibility. In terms of these challenges, Susanne positioned the companies of Schwarz Group as “acting ahead” and as catalysts for the economy in Europe.
During her career, she has shaped and accompanied numerous change and transformation processes. From 2020 to 2022, she was a key driver in these areas in her role as CEO of the global communications agency Hill+Knowlton Strategies. Before that, she was Vice President for business in Germany at Edelman, the world’s largest owner-managed agency.
Talking business & getting personal
In a brief exchange, Susanne shared with us what she is trying to achieve this year as well as her perspective on the Academic Society. In the interview we also discovered what she enjoys in her free time and what remains on her bucket list.
What is one important goal you are working towards in your company this year?
In 2024, we successfully rolled out our joint values across all companies of Schwarz Group. They provide the foundation for our everyday actions. Now, our focus is on further anchoring these values lastingly through initiatives like dialogue formats and empowering our leaders.
In parallel with these internal efforts, we aim to sharpen the external identity of the companies of Schwarz Group. We want to develop a distinct profile and further strengthen our positioning “acting ahead”.
In addition, the development of our division, Schwarz Corporate Affairs, is also an ongoing priority. This means transforming and empowering all our teams regarding our 360-degree stakeholder management.
Why did you decide to partner with the Academic Society?
The Academic Society bridges the gap between research and business in a unique way.
Susanne Marell, Schwarz Group»Amidst the evolving communication landscape, the Academic Society provides a platform for addressing these challenges and fostering dialogue among communicators.«
What is your favorite free time activity?
I can’t name just one thing: Spending time with family and friends, traveling, or reading a good book – these are just a few examples of activities that I really enjoy.
If you were to invite three people to dinner, who would you invite?
Socrates, Mozart, and Michelle Obama.
What is something you have always wanted to try or learn but haven’t had the chance to yet?
I would like to learn to play the saxophone!
Thank you, Susanne, for taking the time to chat with us. We are very excited to collaborate with you and welcome you on board!
Schwarz Group is an international leader in the retail industry with about 13,900 stores and 575,000 employees in 32 countries. In the 2023 fiscal year, the companies of Schwarz Group generated a total sales volume of 167.2 billion euros. Their unique ecosystem lets them cover the full value cycle: from production and retail to recycling and digitalization. They create solutions to make the lives of billions of people safer, healthier and more sustainable, both right now and in the future – they act ahead.
You can find all the partner companies on the Corporate Advisory Board here.