People and Culture: The True Drivers of Retail Transformation

Q: Tell us about your professional experience prior to joining the firm and how it helped shape your career with the company? 

A: Before joining Amrop, I spent five years in Human Resources at Tesco Stores, where I was responsible for HR and training strategy across the Czech and Slovak operations. This experience built a strong foundation in large-scale organizational design, leadership development, and operational excellence. It taught me how to connect people strategy with business performance — something I apply daily in executive search and leadership advisory. Transitioning to Amrop allowed me to elevate from managing people to identifying and shaping leadership at the highest levels. That early exposure to diverse teams and international environments gave me a deep understanding of what drives both performance and culture within global organizations. I first came to know Amrop from the client side — as someone seeking top leadership talent through an executive search partnership, primarily within the Supply Chain and Retail sectors. I carry retail in my DNA and bloodstream, with over two decades of hands-on experience across CEE, from traditional trade to modern retail, food and non-food! 

Q: Among your key focus at Amrop is the Consumer and Retail sector. Can you tell me a bit about the types of clients you’ve been working with and share your observations on what the greatest shifts the sector has recently experienced are? A: In my Consumer & Retail practice, I work with clients across FMCG, food production, and retail chains — from large international groups like REWE/BILLA, Tesco, dm drogerie markt, Biedronka, Pepsi, Mattoni, Heineken, Henkel, Philip Morris International..  to local and family-owned businesses like TOFU company Lunter. Over the past few years, I’ve witnessed a strong shift toward sustainability, digital transformation, and purpose-driven leadership. Consumer expectations are changing rapidly, pushing companies to balance innovation with authenticity. Leadership in retail today requires not only operational acumen but empathy, resilience, and adaptability. I also see a growing demand for leaders who can integrate data-driven insights with human-centric management, especially as Gen Z becomes both the consumer and the employee of the future. 

Consumer and retail industries are transforming faster than ever - where AI and digital tools shape the future, but people and culture still define success. No matter how advanced the technology, it’s leadership mindset and human connection that truly drive customer impact. 

Q: What are the key factors driving transformation in the consumer and retail industry today? 

A: The consumer and retail world is undergoing one of the most transformative periods in decades. The boundaries between traditional and modern retail are blurring - success today depends on how fast leaders can connect physical experience with digital intelligence. AI is no longer just a tool for efficiency; it’s becoming a key driver of personalization, sustainability, and smarter decision-making. Yet, the true differentiator remains people and culture. In every transformation I’ve observed, it’s the leadership mindset and organizational culture that ultimately determine whether innovation truly reaches the customer. 

Q: What, in your view, are the qualities essential for leadership positions in modern food production? 

A: Leaders in modern food production must combine strategic thinking with operational depth. They must understand the full supply chain, from sourcing to sustainability, while maintaining an ethical, transparent approach to leadership. Agility and cross-functional collaboration are key, as is the ability to manage both global complexity and local realities. In assessing fit, I focus on emotional intelligence, integrity, and the capacity to drive transformation through people, not just processes. Increasingly, successful leaders in this sector are those who link production excellence with purpose and social responsibility, creating a sense of meaning that resonates across teams, customers, partners and markets. 

Q: You are a member of Amrop’s Consumer and Retail Practice Group, which brings together specialists from Amrop’s offices around the globe. Can you tell me what the main benefits are of being part of the Practice? 

A: Being part of Amrop’s Global Consumer & Retail Practice means working within a network of peers who share market intelligence, best practices, and strategic insights across continents/ different countries. It allows us to bring a global perspective to local client challenges - combining deep cultural understanding with international reach. Being a member of the Amrop Global Consumer Practice Group gives us the opportunity to work strategically for our clients across multiple countries. It allows us to share market insights, leadership trends, and best practices beyond local borders. This collaboration enhances our ability to deliver consistent, high-quality executive search and leadership advisory solutions on a truly international scale. This collaboration strengthens our ability to identify leadership trends and benchmark talent across markets. Personally, it gives me access to continuous learning, inspiration, and innovation - ensuring that we deliver not just candidates, but strategic leadership solutions. It also fosters a strong sense of community and shared purpose across the Amrop Global. 

We regularly organize and take part in events together – for example, on February 4, 2026 Amrop Slovakia will run the annual HR & Leadership Conference in Bratislava, at the National Footbal Stadium, which brings together business leaders and HR professionals from across sectors, including, of course, Consumer and Retail. Next year will be no exception, as Jarle Trandokken, another member of the Consumer & Retail Practice from Amrop Norway with Gøril Joys Johnsen, CEO Coop Øst, will be keynote speakers.

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To find out more, contact Ladislava Molnarova or the members of Amrop’s Global Consumer & Retail Practice in your country.