Board

Michael Sauer
Chairman

The owner of the Cologne-based company Musicstore, Michael Sauer is among the most successful European retailers and mail order specialists for musical instruments.

After receiving his Abitur (school-leaving certificate granting entry into university studies), he completed a commercial vocational traineeship and began working in the music wholesale company owned by his father Artur Sauer (Scandalli-Sauer), where he remained until he was 29.

In 1974, Michael Sauer became the new CEO of FARFSIA GmbH, a wholesaler that has since been acquired by Lear Siegler.

At the same time, he started out on his own by taking over a small music retailer in Cologne, which very quickly became the city's largest music store. It later evolved into one of Europe's largest musical instrument mail order companies.

Hanns R. Rech

As COO Primondo, the mail order business of the Arcandor Group, and CEO of the Primondo Service Group, Hanns R. Rech has been responsible for the IT, customer service and logistics areas since March 2007.

Prior to assuming these functions, he filled various upper management positions at other large companies. Among others, Mr. Rech served as CEO at LSG Sky Chefs Holding AG, as General Manager and Member of the European Management Board at DHL Worldwide Express Germany, as Managing Director Marketing Food at Oetker International GmbH, and as Managing Director at Tchibo International GmbH. Other employers included Müller-Milch GmbH, Mars Inc. and BASF.