Dr. Ulrich Flatten to Retire as CEO, QVC Germany

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Oct 11, 2013, 08:16 ET

WEST CHESTER, Pa., and DUSSELDORF, Germany, Oct. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- QVC, the global leader in video and ecommerce retail, announced today that Dr. Ulrich Flatten will retire as CEO, QVC Germany at the end of the year, after 12 years of service to the company.

During his tenure, Flatten built QVC Germany into the country's leading video and ecommerce company and one of its most successful and profitable distance retailers. Under his leadership, Germany has developed into QVC's largest European business and its second largest business outside of the United States.

"QVC's success in Germany is due in large part to Ulrich's vision, commitment and determination," said QVC President and CEO Mike George. "He oversaw the opening of every major QVC site in Germany – including our call centers in Kassel and Bochum, our Huckelhoven distribution center, and our Düsseldorf headquarters – creating over 2,000 jobs. He played an integral role in the launch of QVC Italy and has championed global initiatives in areas ranging from human resources to IT."

Flatten said that QVC Germany is at the right stage of its development for the transition to a new leader. "In Germany we have created a solid basis for the continued development of our business and for advancing our strategic focus as a video-centric ecommerce retailer. I hold the current German management and staff in high esteem, and I know that the company is in good hands and is on the right path for a successful future. Together with my QVC colleagues on the international leadership team, we are convinced that now is an appropriate time to pass the management of QVC Germany to a new leader to carry the vision forward."

In the coming months, QVC will conduct a full search to name a new leader for QVC Germany and will consider internal and external candidates for the job. Beginning in early January, Steve Hofmann, CEO, QVC Europe, will take on an interim assignment as CEO, QVC Germany during the transition.

"Ulrich has offered to be available to the team through the transition, and we are happy to have Ulrich's support as an option," George said. "We thank Ulrich for his many years of service and leadership to QVC, and wish him all the best for the future."

About QVC
QVC, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Interactive Corporation (NASDAQ: LINTA), is the world's leading video and ecommerce retailer. QVC is committed to providing its customers with thousands of the most innovative and contemporary beauty, fashion, jewelry and home products. Its programming is distributed to approximately 290 million homes worldwide through operations in the U.S ., Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy and a joint venture in China. West Chester, Pa.-based QVC has shipped more than a billion packages in its 26-year history and the company's website, QVC.com, is ranked among the top general merchant Internet sites. QVC, Q, and the Q Ribbon Logo are registered service marks of ER Marks, Inc.

About QVC Germany
QVC Germany is the leading video and ecommerce retailer in the German market. In 2012, the company posted net revenues of 743 million euros. Approximately 3,700 employees work together to ensure that QVC products are available to customers 24 hours a day. The company runs its own call centers in Bochum and Kassel and has one of the most modern logistics centers in Europe located in Huckelhoven. QVC Germany's product range features approximately 18,000 articles in the areas of home, beauty and lifestyle, fashion, and jewelry, and reaches over 98 percent of all Germany households. In an effort to continue to expand its multimedia services, QVC Germany started broadcasting QVC PLUS in September 2010 and added QVC BEAUTY in March 2012.

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