Former German Chancellor Schröder has joined the supervisory board of Russia's Hyperglobus
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has joined the supervisory board of the Russian company “Hyperglobus,” which operates the Globus hypermarket chain in Russia. The company stated that the former head of the German government will be responsible for “supporting the strategic development” of the business in the Russian market.
For Schröder, who has maintained close ties with Russian business for many years, this marks yet another step in his ongoing involvement with Russia. After ending his political career, he held leadership positions in Russian energy companies, including serving as chairman of the board of directors at Rosneft and chairman of the shareholders’ committee at Nord Stream AG.
Now, the former chancellor has become directly involved in the strategic management of Globus’s Russian business. A company representative stated that Schröder will participate in the overall management and long-term planning of Hyperglobus’s operations in the Russian market.
Thomas Bruch, owner of Hyperglobus LLC and a shareholder of Globus Holding GmbH & Co, explained Schröder’s appointment as a “necessity to strengthen expert support.”
At the same time, Globus’s Russian business was formally separated from the German holding company in early 2025. According to Deutsche Welle, Hyperglobus has since been operating autonomously, although ties between the entities remain through their owners.
Schröder’s appointment to Hyperglobus’s supervisory board raises particularly acute questions against the backdrop of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, as this is not merely a matter of maintaining former business contacts, but of the former chancellor’s involvement in the strategic development of a business operating in the Russian market.
On May 9, following the parade in Moscow, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin stated during a conversation with journalists that, in his opinion, the best candidate for negotiations between the European Union and Russia is former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. The Russian dictator emphasized that, in principle, he is willing to meet with any leader who “hasn’t said anything nasty” about Moscow. However, Schröder is the most suitable and appealing candidate for the Kremlin.
Later, the Kremlin announced that Vladimir Putin had held a private meeting with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in Moscow. The talks took place one-on-one.
