Żabka Group prepares for CEO succession

Żabka Group has begun the process of CEO succession, scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027, subject to prior shareholders’ approval. In the planned transition, the current CEO, Tomasz Suchański, will head the Board of Directors. Tomasz Blicharski, currently Group Chief Strategy & Development Officer, will become the new Group CEO.

The succession plan ensures continuity of the Group’s established growth trajectory while reflecting the increasing importance of long-term strategy in day-to-day management. Tomasz Suchański and Tomasz Blicharski have worked together closely in the Group for over a decade. Thanks to the efforts of the current management, Żabka has transformed from a traditional chain of stores into a modern international enterprise operating across in-store and digital sales channels. Over the past 10 years, the store count has nearly tripled, and sales have grown fivefold. Żabka Group has also become a public company, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 2024.

Effective 1 January 2027, outgoing CEO Tomasz Suchański, after 10 years running the organisation, will become Chairperson of the Board of Directors, as a non-executive director responsible for the activity of the Board, the Group’s highest governing body. Tomasz Blicharski will take on the position of Group Chief Executive Officer, and in this capacity will also preside over the Management Committee of Żabka Group.

Tomasz Suchański brings over 30 years of retail experience to his new role as Chairperson of the Board of Directors, including more than 15 years as CEO of some of Poland’s largest retailers. His tenure at Żabka has been defined by strong growth, digital transformation, and the rapid expansion of the convenience store network across Poland and Romania. Under his leadership, the company has built a strong modern organisation, repeatedly recognised as one of the best places to work, including in international ratings. The high level of employee engagement—confirmed, for example, in Gallup surveys—is a cornerstone of the Group’s success. Suchański has received numerous accolades from the business community, including the CEO of the Year award and recognition in Forbes magazine’s BrandMe CEO poll.

“Working under the Żabka brand for over 10 years has been an exceptional experience,” said Żabka Group CEO Tomasz Suchański. “I am proud of the modern and distinctive company we have built together. We have created an organisation that is today an inspiration to businesses around the world, and above all, a place where people want to work and grow. In my career of over 30 years, and particularly during the past decade at Żabka, I have had the privilege of meeting many outstanding individuals. I am delighted that one of those special people, Tomasz Blicharski, will be leading the Group. His expertise and experience represent an invaluable asset.”

Tomasz Blicharski, who will join the Board of Directors on 1 January 2027 as Group CEO and President of the Management Committee, is an experienced executive who has been associated with the Żabka Group for over 15 years. During that time, he was responsible for the transformation of the group’s business model, the development of new business segments, and the creation of the digital convenience ecosystem. He was also responsible for developing the Value Creation Plan through 2028 and the group’s sustainability strategy. In 2021–2024, he was Vice President of the Żabka Polska Management Board and Managing Director at Żabka Future. Before that, he concurrently held two roles at Żabka Polska: Chief Financial Officer (from 2015) and Chief Development Officer (from 2017). In his current role as Group Chief Strategy & Development Officer, he is responsible for the Żabka Group’s strategy, an invaluable experience for leading the group. He also gained multifaceted experience in investment banking and at the private equity fund Mid Europa Partners, where he oversaw investments in Central & Eastern Europe. He holds degrees from Stanford University and SGH Warsaw School of Economics.