Veteran Kik's kitchen staff, Dent, departs from the textile store's discount section.

Kik CEO Departs, Company Remains Stable Amidst Strategic Changes

In a significant move, the textile discount store Kik has announced that its CEO, Patrick Zahn, has left the company. The announcement was made in Boone, North Rhine-Westphalia, on September 4, 2025.

According to a letter to close business associates, Zahn stated that a company needs trusting cooperation and maximum unity in strategic questions between management and shareholders, especially in challenging times. He emphasized that his departure is intended to create space for new approaches and impulses.

The separation was previously reported by Handelsblatt, with the publication suggesting that Zahn requested the dissolution of his contract due to strategic differences with Tengelmann owner Christian Haub. Zahn had been the CEO of Kik since the beginning of 2014.

Despite the leadership change, Kik remains stable. The company, which belongs to the Tengelmann group, is facing a challenging market environment and changing conditions, like the rest of the industry. However, Kik's management remains fully operational.

In the interim, Christian Kümmel has been serving as CFO since August 1, 2025, and Agnieszka Jaworska will join the management on November 1, 2025, overseeing purchasing and assortment management.

As of now, Kik has not yet announced a new CEO to succeed Zahn. The company plans to comment officially on the succession "in due time."

In a statement, Kik emphasizes that the company is stable, and they will comment on the succession at an appropriate time. They assure their associates and customers that their operations will continue as usual.

This change in leadership marks an exciting new chapter for Kik, and we look forward to seeing the new approaches and impulses that will shape the company's future.

Veteran Kik's kitchen staff, Dent, departs from the textile store's discount section.