Żabka Group has begun a planned CEO succession process, which is set to take effect on 1 January 2027, following approval by the group’s shareholders. As part of the previously designed leadership changes, current CEO Tomasz Suchański will lead the Board of Directors. The new CEO of the group will be Tomasz Blicharski, currently Group Chief Strategy & Development Officer.
The planned changes are intended to ensure continuity of Żabka’s existing development path while reflecting the growing importance of long-term strategy in the company’s day-to-day management. Tomasz Suchański and Tomasz Blicharski have worked closely together within the group for more than 10 years. Under the current management team, Żabka has transformed from a traditional store chain into a modern international group operating in both physical and digital retail. Over the past decade, the number of stores has almost tripled, while sales value has increased fivefold. Żabka Group also became a public company, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 2024.
As a result of the changes, which will come into effect on 1 January 2027, Tomasz Suchański will step down after 10 years as CEO and become Chairperson of the Board of Directors as a non-executive director, responsible for the activities of the Board, the group’s highest governing body. Tomasz Blicharski will assume the role of Group Chief Executive Officer. In this capacity, he will also chair Żabka Group’s Management Committee.
Tomasz Suchański will take on the role of Chairperson of the Board of Directors with more than 30 years of experience in retail, including over 15 years as CEO of some of the largest retail companies in Poland. His leadership at Żabka has been marked by intensive growth, digital transformation and rapid expansion of the convenience store network in Poland and Romania. Under his management, the company built a strong, modern organisation that has repeatedly been recognised as one of the best places to work, including in global rankings. A high level of employee engagement, confirmed among others by Gallup Institute surveys, is one of the key pillars of the group’s success. Suchański has also been repeatedly recognised by the business community, including with the “CEO of the Year” award and in Forbes magazine’s “BrandMe CEO” ranking.
“More than 10 years of work under the Żabka brand has been an exceptional experience. I am proud to see what a modern and unique company we have managed to build. We have created an organisation that today serves as an inspiration for companies around the world, and above all a place where people want to develop and work,” said Tomasz Suchański, CEO of Żabka Group. “Over more than 30 years of my professional career, and especially over the past decade at Żabka, I have had the privilege of meeting many exceptional people. I am pleased that Tomasz Blicharski, as one of those exceptional people, will lead the group. His knowledge and experience are an invaluable asset.”
Tomasz Blicharski, who will join the Board of Directors on 1 January 2027 as Group Chief Executive Officer and President of the Management Committee, is an experienced manager who has been associated with Żabka Group for more than 15 years. During this time, he has been responsible for transforming the business model, developing new business segments and building the digital convenience ecosystem.
He was also responsible for creating the group’s Value Creation Plan to 2028 and its sustainability strategy. From 2021 to 2024, he served as Vice-President of the Management Board and Managing Director of Żabka Future. Earlier, he simultaneously held two positions: Vice-President of the Management Board of Żabka Polska for Finance from 2015 and Vice-President of the Management Board of Żabka Polska for Development from 2017. Currently, as Group Chief Strategy & Development Officer, he is responsible for Żabka Group’s strategy, which provides a strong foundation for leading the group. He also gained multi-dimensional experience in investment banking and at Mid Europa Partners, where he supervised investments in Central and Eastern Europe. He is a graduate of Stanford University and the Warsaw School of Economics.
Strategic continuity as the foundation of Żabka Group’s development
The changes in the governance structure are the result of a carefully planned, long-term succession process that has been underway since 2022 in cooperation with the entire management team, including Żabka Group’s Board of Directors. Starting the handover process so early reflects responsibility towards investors and the organisation itself. The aim is to ensure leadership continuity and further stable development of the group.
Until 1 January 2027, a smooth handover of responsibilities will take place to ensure continuity of operations based on long-term strategic assumptions and to support the achievement of business objectives.
Tomasz Blicharski’s profile and priorities
“Taking on the role of CEO is a special moment in my professional journey at Żabka Group. Over the past 15 years, I have co-led the transformation of a chain of physical stores into a nationwide convenience ecosystem based on data, technology and close cooperation with franchisees,” said Tomasz Blicharski.
“By the end of 2028, we have set a clearly defined goal: 16,000 stores in Poland and Romania, with an annual opening rate of more than 1,300 new locations, while maintaining capital discipline and network profitability. In the coming years, we will focus on further scaling the business, increasing operational efficiency in existing stores and developing the digital convenience ecosystem, so that we can respond even better to rapidly changing customer needs and consistently build the group’s long-term value,” he added.
Other changes to the Board of Directors and development outlook
During Żabka Group’s Annual General Meeting approving the financial statements for 2025, Krzysztof Krawczyk will end his mandate as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Żabka Group and will not seek reappointment. Krzysztof Aniola will join the Board as a non-executive director, appointed for a one-year term.
Żabka Group continues to implement its growth strategy in Poland and Romania, focusing on network expansion, like-for-like sales growth and the development of its digital convenience ecosystem. The company aims to strengthen its position as a market leader in this segment in Europe. The governance changes are intended to support the effective delivery of these objectives in the next stages of expansion.
