What Does Karstadt Do?

Total employees11000
HeadquartersEssen
Founded1881

Karstadt is a renowned German department store chain with a rich history dating back to 1881. For decades, it was a staple of German high streets, offering a wide range of goods from fashion and household items to electronics and food. Following economic challenges and evolving retail landscapes, Karstadt merged with Kaufhof to form Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof. The combined entity has faced significant financial difficulties, undergoing multiple insolvency proceedings and restructuring efforts, including store closures and a search for new investors. Despite these challenges, the Karstadt brand (within Galeria) continues to represent a significant part of Germany's retail heritage, striving to adapt to modern consumer needs through a mix of physical stores and online presence.

Where Is Karstadt's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Serves as the central administrative and strategic hub for all Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof operations, including merchandising, marketing, finance, HR, and logistics for the remaining department stores and online business.

Notable Features:

The Essen headquarters is a modern administrative complex, designed to support a large retail organization. Historically, Karstadt HQs were often architecturally significant buildings in city centers.

Work Culture:

Currently, the work culture is likely characterized by significant transition and a focus on efficiency and restructuring due to ongoing financial challenges. There's a sense of urgency to adapt and secure the company's future, mixed with the legacy of a traditional retail environment.

HQ Significance:

The Essen headquarters is crucial for coordinating the nationwide restructuring and operational efforts of Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof. It's the nerve center for decision-making impacting thousands of employees and numerous store locations across Germany.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters' operations likely reflect a push towards resilience, adaptability, and a customer-centric approach amidst transformation. Efficiency and cost-management are also key drivers.

Location:

Karstadt, as part of Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof, primarily operates within Germany. Its functions, including retail store operations, e-commerce, sourcing, and administration, are almost exclusively focused on the German market. Historically, there might have been international sourcing offices, but the core business and customer-facing operations are domestic.

Street Address:

Theodor-Althoff-Straße 2

City:

Essen

State/Province:

North Rhine-Westphalia

Country:

Germany

Where Else Does Karstadt Operate Around the World?

Berlin, Germany

Address: Various store locations, e.g., Kurfürstendamm 231, 10719 Berlin (Galeria Weltstadthaus)

To serve the large Berlin metropolitan customer base, manage multiple store operations within the capital, and act as a key region for sales and brand presence.

Hamburg, Germany

Address: Various store locations, e.g., Mönckebergstraße 16, 20095 Hamburg (Galeria Alstertor)

Catering to the affluent Hamburg market, managing local store footprints, and ensuring operational excellence in a competitive retail environment.

Munich, Germany

Address: Various store locations, e.g., Kaufingerstraße 1-5, 80331 München (Galeria Marienplatz)

Serving the prosperous Bavarian market, managing high-traffic store locations, and adapting offerings to regional consumer preferences.

Buying Intent Signals for Karstadt

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Karstadt? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Karstadt' leadership includes:

Olivier Van den Bossche - Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Guido Mager - Chief Financial Officer (CFO) / Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO)
Wolf-Christian Dälken - Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) / Arbeitsdirektor

Who's Investing in Karstadt?

Karstadt has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Signa Holding (Previous majority owner, now insolvent)
Currently undergoing insolvency proceedings, with potential new investors being evaluated by administrators (e.g., consortium of NRDC Equity Partners and BB Kapital SA (owned by Bernd Beetz), and a separate bid by Go Wefers)

What Leadership Changes Has Karstadt Seen Recently?

Hire2
Exits1

Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof has experienced significant leadership changes due to its ongoing restructuring and insolvency proceedings. Key appointments have been made to navigate the complex financial situation and steer the company towards a sustainable future.

Departures

Miguel Müllenbach, Miguel Müllenbach departed his role as CEO amidst ongoing restructuring.

New Appointments:

Olivier Van den Bossche, Olivier Van den Bossche took the helm as CEO to navigate the company's challenges.
Guido Mager, Guido Mager joined to manage the financial and restructuring aspects.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byKarstadt?

Discover the tools Karstadt uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Karstadt Email Formats and Examples

Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof, the parent company of the Karstadt brand, likely uses standardized corporate email formats. Common formats include first name initial followed by last name, or first name dot last name.

A common format is [first_initial][lastname]@galeria.de or [firstname].[lastname]@galeria.de

Format

j.doe@galeria.de

Example

70%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Karstadt?

ReutersApril 9, 2024

Karstadt (Galeria) news: Germany's Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof to be taken over by investor consortium

Insolvent German department store chain Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof (GKK) will be acquired by a consortium consisting of U.S. investor NRDC Equity Partners and BB Kapital SA, a company owned by entrepreneur Bernd Beetz. The deal is expected to preserve a significant portion of stores and jobs....more

DW (Deutsche Welle)January 9, 2024

Karstadt (Galeria) news: German retailer Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof files for insolvency

Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof, Germany's last major department store chain, filed for insolvency for the third time in less than four years. The move was attributed to the struggles of its parent company, Signa....more

FashionUnitedMay 13, 2023

Karstadt (Galeria) news: Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof appoints new management team

Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof announced a new management team with Olivier Van den Bossche as CEO, Guido Mager as CFO/CRO, and Wolf-Christian Dälken as CHRO, aiming to lead the company through its restructuring....more

RetailDetail EUMarch 27, 2023

Karstadt (Galeria) news: Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof creditors approve rescue plan

Creditors of Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof approved an insolvency plan that included the closure of dozens of stores but aimed to save the core business. This was part of the second insolvency proceeding....more

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