Real CEO Patrick Müller-Sarmiento re-joins Roland Berger

Eight years after leaving Roland Berger, Patrick Müller-Sarmiento has re-joined the strategic consultancy as a senior partner.

In the intervening years, Müller-Sarmiento worked for hypermarket Real, initially as a member of the management board and from 2016 onwards, as chief executive officer. Formed in 1992 from the merger of German retail grocery chains divi, Basar, Continent, Esbella and real-kauf, Real was at its height one of the larger players in the landscape. 

Müller-Sarmiento led the company through a number of major transformations, including the redesign of the brick-and-mortar store outlets, the establishment of digital platforms, a revamp of the internal operations, and most notably, a number of divestitures and carve-outs topped off by the February 2020 sale to a consortium consisting of property investors X+Bricks and the SCP Group.

The sale of the brand, the 276 Real stores and transfer of approximately 34,000 Real employees in Germany saw Müller-Sarmiento’s mandate come to a natural close, and he has now taken the opportunity to handover his responsibilities and re-join the firm he previously spent a decade with. He latterly was a senior partner and Head of the firm’s Consumer Goods & Retail practice, and now reassumes this role per January 1st. 

As the leader of Roland Berger’s Consumer Goods & Retail practice, he oversees all client management, project delivery, practice development, internal operations and thought leadership of the industry vertical. “Patrick’s leadership experience and his flair for innovation in consumer goods and retail will further enrich our consulting expertise. We are delighted to be able to welcome him back into the family,” said Global Managing Partner Stefan Schaible. 

With a seat on the Innovation Board, Müller-Sarmiento will also help the global consulting firm progress its business portfolio. This will include innovative strategies and services that support companies in the process of digitalising their business models while also taking the necessary steps towards a sustainable economy.

Commenting on his new challenge, the veteran said: ”I am very excited to be tackling the daunting challenges facing the consumer goods industry with our clients and our teams. There is a lot to do.”