Sourcing expert Heidi Stevens is new Otto International CEO

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Apr 22, 2022

Heidi Stevens takes over as CEO of Otto International in the middle of next month, succeeding Michael Dumke, who’s due to retire at the end of June after 11 years as CEO of Otto Group’s global procurement and services company.

Otto Group owns Freemans Grattan Holdings, Quelle, Otto, Bon Prix, About You, Crate & Barrel and many other retailers.

London College of Fashion graduate Stevens has a long career in the sourcing industry and has worked in sourcing and product development for international fashion companies for over two decades. 

Former employers include Walmart, US catalogue retailer Spiegel, and shirt manufacturer Gitman Bros. During those 20 years, she’s held a variety of roles, and since 2013 she’s worked directly in Walmart's core sourcing organisation in China. She was responsible for the entire apparel global sourcing operation for North America and grew the business in areas such as category operations, quality assurance, technical design and sustainability. 

She also took over as VP Global Sourcing, General Merchandise & Apparel in 2018. She led a global operation across 20+ geographies with direct responsibility for sourcing, quality and technical design services, quality operations, raw materials and business development.

Sergio Bucher — the former Debenhams and Amazon executive who’s a Member of the Otto Executive Board, Brands and Retail — said: “Heidi Stevens brings an exceptional expertise in international procurement and is a seasoned leader. Her engaging personality and the values she holds dear will be an asset for the Otto International teams. We are delighted to have found in her the right successor for the management of Otto International and are sure that she will develop the company in a successful and sustainable way.”

Dumke is leaving the group for what the group said is a “well-deserved retirement” and will be missed for his “professional acumen and his personal touch”.

During his time at the group since 1984, he’s been an Otto buyer and MD of Eddie Bauer. He also left the group to work at Lidl in 2007 but returned in 2011 to take up his current role.