Zalando SE announced today that its supervisory board has nominated Peter Sarlin, a European pioneer in machine learning and artificial intelligence, for election as a supervisory board member at the annual general meeting on 12 May 2026. Sarlin, founder of Silo AI—Europe's largest private AI lab acquired by AMD in 2024—and chairperson of NestAI and Qutwo, will bring dedicated AI expertise to the board as Zalando scales AI innovations across its fashion and lifestyle platform.
Data, machine learning, and AI have been integral to Zalando since its founding in 2008. The company is now leveraging its unique data and infrastructure platform—including Europe's richest fashion-specific data set and leading logistics fulfilment network—to enhance operational efficiency and deliver personalized customer experiences. Zalando is exploring agentic commerce, aiming to create lifestyle agents that understand customers' contexts and proactively serve their needs. The company is already partnering with Sarlin's Qutwo, one of Europe's most ambitious AI labs, to evolve its Zalando Assistant into a true personal lifestyle companion.
Sarlin will succeed Susanne Schroter-Crossan, who is stepping down from the supervisory board effective at the end of the AGM. The board expressed gratitude for her contributions. Kelly Bennett, chairperson of the supervisory board, stated, 'Peter will play a crucial role in governing and scaling our AI innovations further as we unlock tremendous value for our customers, our partners, and our business. He is an AI pioneer, and we are excited to work with him to embrace the tremendous opportunities ahead of us.'
Zalando operates across 29 markets, connecting 62 million active customers with more than 7,000 brands. Its multi-app approach includes Zalando, ABOUT YOU, and Lounge by Zalando, delivering personalized shopping experiences. For partners, Zalando offers ZEOS, Tradebyte, and SCAYLE to scale e-commerce operations. The full AGM invitation is available at corporate.zalando.com. This nomination underscores Zalando's commitment to integrating advanced AI into its core business strategy, positioning the company to drive significant value for stakeholders while maintaining its leadership in European fashion technology.
