Observed Signal · Aug 25, 2026 · Hiring · Source: persoenlich.com News · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Denner CMO Raphael Werner Announces Departure
Raphael Werner, Denner's Head of Customer and marketing lead, has announced his departure from the Swiss discounter in an exclusive interview with persoenlich.com published on 2026-08-25. Named "CMO of the Year" the week before, Werner said the award marked a fitting endpoint and that the timing was right to pursue a new professional challenge; he did not disclose his next move and denied political reasons played a role. During two years at Denner he oversaw Marketing, Promotions, Digital Business and Customer Insights, leading visible initiatives such as the football short film "The Socceritos", sponsorship of the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship and a public stunt involving Lidl's logo. Werner praised his teams and noted Denner works with several specialized agencies.
Regional marketing leadership change at a major Swiss retailer with high-profile sponsorship and creative campaigns; relevant to marketing and agency teams but not industry-shifting globally.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Raphael Werner is leaving Denner; he served as Head of Customer and marketing lead.
- Werner was named "CMO of the Year" shortly before his departure.
- He oversaw Marketing, Promotions, Digital Business and Customer Insights and led campaigns including the short film 'The Socceritos' and sponsorship of the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship.
- Werner began his career at Lidl in Switzerland and Belgium.
- Departure was announced in an exclusive persoenlich.com interview published 2026-08-25; he denied political motives and did not reveal his next move.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mapped“Bevor Sie zu Denner kamen, waren Sie viele Jahre für Lidl in der Schweiz und Belgien tätig....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Raphael Werner Named CMO of the Year 2026
Raphael Werner, Denner's marketing chief, was awarded "CMO of the Year Switzerland 2026" by the Serviceplan Group Switzerland at the fifth edition of the award. A jury of 18 representatives from business, marketing, media and academia evaluated candidates using dossiers compiled by the Institute for Marketing & Customer Insight at the University of St.Gallen. Werner, who began his career at Lidl and now leads Marketing, Promotions, Digital Business and Customer Insights at Denner, was recognized for culturally relevant, data-driven customer leadership and bold brand communication. The award night took place at LaSalle in Schiffbau Zürich and the initiative is run by Serviceplan Group Switzerland in partnership with multiple Swiss industry organisations and media partners.
Denner Marketing Head René Emmerich Leaves
René Emmerich, Head of Marketing at Swiss discounter Denner, is leaving the company effective end of August 2026 after a strategic refocus that eliminates his role. Emmerich joined Denner in August 2025 and previously spent around 23 years at Lidl International before serving as Director Marketing at Kaiserkraft. Denner says the Marketing/Digital area will refocus on core tasks and the position Emmerich held will be removed; Lajos Vizner will take interim leadership of Marketing/Digital. The article notes other recent departures at Denner (including Raphael Werner and earlier CEO Torsten Friedrich). Emmerich said he will prioritise family time and has no concrete next career step yet.
dm CEO Christoph Werner Named Marketingman of the Year
Christoph Werner, Chairman of the Management Board of dm‑Drogeriemarkt, was named HORIZONT's "Marketingman of the Year". In a published interview, Werner discusses his leadership approach, the role of marketing at dm and the drivers behind the brand's success. The piece was written by Eva‑Maria Schmidt and published on HORIZONT on 2026‑06‑08. The article is a profile-style interview that highlights Werner's stewardship of the company and marketing strategy.
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