Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has taken a new business position in Russia, joining the supervisory board of Hyperglobus, the company operating Globus supermarkets in the country.
Reuters reports that the 82 year old former leader will support the strategic development of the Russian retail business and participate in its overall management.
The appointment immediately attracted attention in Germany because of Schröder’s longstanding relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his previous roles with Russian energy companies.
Schröder joins Hyperglobus board
Hyperglobus confirmed that Schröder had joined its supervisory board.
The company operates more than 20 supermarkets in Russia that continue to trade under the Globus brand.
However, the Russian operation is no longer part of Germany’s Globus Holding.
Reuters reports that Hyperglobus was separated from Globus Holding in 2025 and now operates independently under the ownership of Thomas Bruch, the former head of the German retail group.
German broadcaster Tagesschau also reported that the Russian company is legally and operationally independent from the German business.
Why Hyperglobus chose Schröder
Thomas Bruch said Schröder’s experience with Russia’s political, economic and cultural environment would strengthen the company’s supervisory board.
According to Reuters, Bruch said the former chancellor could help Hyperglobus maintain a dialogue focused approach under difficult circumstances.
Schröder also defended continued commercial engagement with Russia.
He said maintaining economic relationships and investment was important, particularly in essential sectors such as food supplies, Reuters reports.
Timing raises questions
The appointment comes at a particularly sensitive moment for foreign companies operating in Russia.
Just four days earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian assets of German retailer Metro to be placed under temporary state administration.
Other Western companies have also faced Russian state intervention involving their local businesses.
Handelsblatt reports that Russian newspaper Kommersant raised the possibility that Schröder’s appointment could help protect Hyperglobus from facing similar action. There is no confirmed evidence that this was the reason for his appointment.
Hyperglobus has not publicly linked Schröder’s new role to those developments.
Schröder’s Russia ties remain controversial
Schröder served as German chancellor from 1998 until 2005.
During his time in office, he developed a close relationship with Putin and supported stronger energy cooperation between Germany and Russia.
After leaving government, Schröder accepted senior positions connected to Russian energy interests, including Rosneft and the Nord Stream pipeline projects.
His relationship with Moscow became particularly controversial following Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Reuters reports that Germany subsequently removed Schröder’s taxpayer funded parliamentary office and staff amid criticism over his continued Russian business connections and his refusal to condemn Putin personally.
Schröder resigned from Rosneft’s board in 2022 and abandoned plans to join Gazprom’s board.
His relationship with Putin continues
Despite the political controversy, Schröder has maintained contact with Putin.
The Kremlin confirmed that the two held a private meeting earlier this year, although details of their conversation were not disclosed.
Putin also said this year that Schröder would be his preferred European interlocutor for discussions about future security arrangements in Europe. The European Union rejected that idea.
Schröder’s latest appointment therefore places him once again at the intersection of German business and Russian interests.
This time, however, his role is not in oil or gas.
The former German chancellor will help oversee the strategic development of a supermarket business operating more than 20 stores across Russia, at a moment when the future of Western linked companies in the country remains increasingly uncertain.
