Robert Gentz
Co-founder and co-chief executive of Zalando
Robert Gentz is the co-founder and co-chief executive of Zalando, Europe's leading online fashion platform. He founded the company with David Schneider in Berlin in 2008 and today leads its strategy with a focus on the consumer business, including the integration of About You.
| Role | Co-founder and co-CEO, Zalando SE |
|---|---|
| Founded Zalando | 2008, Berlin |
| Focus | B2C growth |
| Co-CEO | David Schröder |
| Education | WHU, Otto Beisheim School of Management |
| Born | 1983 |
Who is Robert Gentz?
Robert Gentz is the co-founder and co-chief executive of Zalando SE, the Berlin-based online fashion and lifestyle platform. According to Zalando, he oversees the company's strategy with a particular focus on expanding its B2C growth vector. He shares the chief executive role with David Schröder, who focuses on Zalando's B2B business.
Career
Gentz studied business administration at WHU, Otto Beisheim School of Management, where he met his future co-founder David Schneider. In October 2008 the two founded Zalando in Berlin with investment from the Samwer brothers, initially selling shoes online.
Zalando grew rapidly into a multi-brand fashion platform, went public in 2014 and later joined Germany's DAX index. Key steps in its development include:
- expansion across European markets, with operations in more than 25 countries
- the launch of partner and logistics services for brands, including the ZEOS operating system in 2023
- the off-price business Lounge by Zalando
- teaming up with About You in 2025, adding a second consumer app to its multi-app strategy
Influence on the fashion business
Gentz has helped define how fashion is sold online in Europe. Zalando's shift from a retailer to a platform, combining its own wholesale buying with partner programmes and logistics services, has changed how many brands reach consumers across European markets. Its scale also makes it one of the largest sources of customer data in European fashion.
Robert Gentz and technology
Technology and AI are central to Zalando's strategy. In the management board report to the 2026 annual general meeting, delivered by Gentz and Schröder, the company stated that "AI is supercharging our platform, accelerating growth and efficiency" and that more than 90% of onsite marketing content was generated by AI by December 2025. The report described the Zalando Assistant as "becoming a true lifestyle companion". The assistant, first launched as a beta, had engaged more than 500,000 customers by June 2024, and Zalando also uses AI for size and fit recommendations.
Why it matters
As one of the founders who built European fashion e-commerce at scale, Gentz is a leading voice on platform strategy and the use of AI in retail. Zalando's choices on assistants, AI content and size advice are closely watched by brands that depend on the platform to reach European consumers.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Robert Gentz?
Robert Gentz is the co-founder and co-chief executive of Zalando. He founded the Berlin-based online fashion platform with David Schneider in 2008.
What has Zalando said about AI?
In its 2026 AGM report, delivered by co-CEOs Robert Gentz and David Schröder, Zalando said AI is supercharging its platform and that more than 90% of onsite marketing content was AI-generated by December 2025.
