German retailer Globus stayed in Russia after the full-scale invasion. Now its Russian arm has put former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder on its supervisory board.

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has joined the supervisory board of Giperglobus LLC, which operates the Globus hypermarket chain in Russia. He will help manage the business and guide its strategic development in Russia, a spokesperson for the chain told RBC.

Giperglobus owner Thomas Bruch said Schröder’s appointment would let the company draw on his many years of experience in Russian political and economic affairs. He said the former chancellor would help the company maintain an “approach focused on dialogue” and find constructive solutions under current conditions.

Globus remains one of the few foreign retailers that continued operating in Russia after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, RBC reported. Giperglobus LLC now finances its operations with its own funds and has shareholders and a brand in common with the German chain. Giperglobus owns 22 stores in eight regions.

Metro Cash & Carry, Auchan, and Lemana PRO (Leroy Merlin) also continue operating in Russia, but in September, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees placing these retailers’ Russian legal entities under temporary management.

After the invasion began, Schröder maintained his relationship with Putin and continued visiting Russia. In July 2022, he met with Putin in Moscow and said a rift between them was impossible. In May 2026, Putin called Schröder his “preferred” mediator for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, but Europe refused to let Moscow choose its representative. In June 2026, the Kremlin again said the two had met, but gave no details of their conversation.