Swiss self-serve retail company Selecta Group has appointed Venkie Shantaram as its new chief executive officer, following a leadership transition period led by Michael Rauch.

Michael Rauch, who has been interim CEO since May 2025, will now step down after helping the company through the transition. The board thanked him for his “professionalism and commitment,” saying he played a key role in keeping things steady during the search for a new CEO.

Shantaram, who starts immediately, has more than 30 years of experience leading large teams and improving business performance. He previously led Compass Group’s Europe & Middle East division, where he managed 130,000 employees across 25 countries and achieved strong growth and better customer results.

More recently, he worked with Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, helping businesses strengthen their operations and long-term performance.

The board said Shantaram’s experience and people-focused approach will help lead Selecta into its next stage of growth.

Venkie Shantaram, CEO of Selecta Group, said: “I’m honoured to join Selecta at such an exciting stage in its journey. The company’s commitment to quality, innovation and customer care truly stands out. I look forward to working closely with our talented teams to build on this strong foundation – and to continue delivering outstanding value to our customers and partners across Europe.”