{{Short description|Spanish/Swiss businessman (born 1963)}} {{Infobox person | image = | name = Sergio Bucher | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1963|11|7}} | birth_place = La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland | baptised = | education = Engineer in Applied Mathematics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne | employer = | occupation = Businessman | years_active = }}
'''Sergio Bucher Rodriguez''' (born November 1963)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/nG05EJhAPiAcHnnHptKig0H5Yl0/appointments |title=Companies House |access-date=2017-04-27 |archive-date=2017-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428052010/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/nG05EJhAPiAcHnnHptKig0H5Yl0/appointments |url-status=live }}</ref> is a dual-nationality Spanish/Swiss businessman. His carrer took him through companies such as Inditex, Nike, Puma and Amazon, before he became the chief executive of Debenhams in October 2016, succeeding Michael Sharp. He stepped down in 2019. Between 2020 and 2026, he became member of the executive board for the Otto Group<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ottogroup.com/en/about-us/management/Vorstand/Sergio-Bucher.php|title=Sergio Bucher: Member of the Executive Board, Brands and Retail|access-date=2021-03-25|archive-date=2021-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209014602/https://www.ottogroup.com/en/about-us/management/Vorstand/Sergio-Bucher.php|url-status=live}}</ref>. Since 2026, he serves as a non-executive board member in companies such as Otto Group,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Sergio Bucher appointed to the Supervisory Board of the Otto Group and of Bonprix |url=https://www.ottogroup.com/en/medien/newsroom/meldungen/dr-philipp-andre-to-succeed-sergio-bucher-as-new-executive-board-member-for-brands-and-retail-at-the-otto-group.php}}</ref> Bonprix<ref name=":0" /> and World Retail Congress.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=World Retail Congress confirms 2026 Advisory Board |url=https://www.spencerstuart.com/research-and-insight/world-retail-congress-confirms-2026-advisory-board}}</ref>
==Early life== He is half Spanish and half-Swiss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retail-week.com/sectors/department-stores/profile-debenhams-unearths-real-find-in-new-boss-sergio-bucher/7007886.fullarticle|title=Profile: Debenhams unearths 'real find' in new boss Sergio Bucher|work=Retail Week|access-date=2016-05-27|archive-date=2016-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701043617/http://www.retail-week.com/sectors/department-stores/profile-debenhams-unearths-real-find-in-new-boss-sergio-bucher/7007886.fullarticle|url-status=live}}</ref> He studied Applied Mathematics Engineering at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
==Career== From 1987 to 1997 he worked for DuPont. He worked from 1998 to 2000 at Grupo Cortefiel in Spain, then from 2000 to 2003 at Inditex in Spain where he founded Inditex's lingerie chain Oysho.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lsa-conso.fr/oysho-la-lingerie-en-toute-liberte,81971|title=Oysho, la lingerie en toute liberté|work=LSA. 21 February 2002|access-date=25 March 2021|archive-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401144041/http://www.lsa-conso.fr/oysho-la-lingerie-en-toute-liberte,81971|url-status=live}}</ref> From 2004 to 2008 he was general manager for Retail at Nike, Inc. for EMEA, and retail director of Spain and Portugal. He worked from 2009 to 2013 for Puma SE as general manager of global retail.
From 2013 to 2016 he headed Amazon's fashion business in Europe <ref>{{cite web |author=Gale |first=Adam |title=Who is Debenhams CEO Sergio Bucher? |url=http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/news/1396499/who-debenhams-sergio-bucher/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527150611/http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/news/1396499/who-debenhams-sergio-bucher/ |archive-date=2016-05-27 |access-date=2016-05-27 |website=Haymarket Business Interactive |publisher=}}</ref> where he centralised fashion activities and opened one of the largest digital content factories in Europe in Shoreditch (London) <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2014/11/00300-amazon-uk-to-open-a-studio-in-shoreditch/|title=Amazon UK to open a studio in Shoreditch|work=Retail Gazette. 25 November 2014|access-date=25 March 2021|archive-date=20 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520225025/https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2014/11/00300-amazon-uk-to-open-a-studio-in-shoreditch/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In May 2016, it was announced that he would become the chief executive of Debenhams in October 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/05/26/amazon-executive-to-take-the-reins-at-debenhams/|title=Amazon executive to take the reins at Debenhams|date=26 May 2016|work=The Telegraph|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=14 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114171935/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/05/26/amazon-executive-to-take-the-reins-at-debenhams/|url-status=live}}</ref> Sergio Bucher was at the helm for three years, leading the company’s complex transformation<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Lauretta |date=2018-09-03 |title=Debenhams unveils refreshed brand as it continues with its turnaround plan |url=https://www.theindustry.fashion/debenhams-unveils-refreshed-brand-as-it-continues-with-its-turnaround-plan/ |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=TheIndustry.fashion |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=John |title=First look: Debenhams' Sergio Bucher opens first store |url=https://www.retail-week.com/department-stores/first-look-debenhams-sergio-bucher-opens-first-store/7025495.article |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=Retail Week |language=en}}</ref> and oversaw the administration process that concluded with the support of its lenders.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-04-18 |title=Debenhams boss Sergio Bucher steps down |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47976329 |access-date=2025-11-13 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
From February 2020 till 2026, he served as member of the executive board for Retail and Brands <ref>{{cite web|url=https://ww.fashionnetwork.com/news/Ex-debenhams-chief-sergio-bucher-joins-germany-s-otto,1172771.html|title=Ex-Debenhams chief Sergio Bucher joins Germany's Otto|work=Fashion Network. 7 January 2020|access-date=25 March 2021|archive-date=27 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227012049/https://ww.fashionnetwork.com/news/Ex-debenhams-chief-sergio-bucher-joins-germany-s-otto,1172771.html|url-status=live}}</ref> at the Otto Group, where he oversaw a portfolio of multichannel companies such as Crate & Barrel, Freemans & Grattan plc, Manufactum , [https://www.frankonia.de/ Frankonia] and [https://ottoint.com/index.html Otto International], the sourcing operation of the Otto Group, acting as the chairman of the board of those companies.
In 2026, he took positions as non-executive director on the supervisory (or advisory) board of several companies, such as the Otto Group<ref name=":0" />, Bonprix<ref name=":0" /> and the World Retail Congress<ref name=":1" />. Previously, he also served as Non-executive director for Namshi.com in Dubai.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Namshi General Trading LLC - Relationship Science|url=https://relationshipscience.com/organization/namshi-general-trading-llc-114921234|access-date=2021-09-08|website=relationshipscience.com|archive-date=2021-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908125302/https://relationshipscience.com/organization/namshi-general-trading-llc-114921234|url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{UK Department stores}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bucher, Sergio}} Category:1963 births Category:Debenhams Category:DuPont people Category:École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne alumni Category:Inditex Category:Living people Category:Nike, Inc. people Category:Puma (brand) Category:Swiss people of Spanish descent