Géza Vincze: ‘Let’s experience the journey ahead of us as a real adventure’

By: Trademagazin editor Date: 2025. 06. 13. 15:20

An interview with Géza Vincze, who was appointed CEO of Auchan Magyarország in spring 2025.

– You have been working in retail for nearly thirty years. What have you brought with you to Auchan?

– I worked at Mars for nine years and the values I acquired there had a great influence on me. I still consider their approach important today and I keep saying it to the Auchan team: freedom isn’t just a principle, but an opportunity. During my years at Metro one phrase became deeply ingrained in me: The store is everything. Working at Penny I learned the discounter operates according to a completely different logic, as there efficiency is paramount.

– What were your first 100 days like leading Auchan?

– The team welcomed me with great openness and trust. I have never felt any prejudice against me. At the beginning of our work together, I had the opportunity to meet all my senior colleagues in an informal, relaxed atmosphere, where we could get a direct impression of each other. They welcomed me with an open heart and great support.

Géza Vincze, managing director of Auchan Magyarország

– How do you see the market processes in 2024? How did Auchan perform in this environment?

-There is no doubt that Auchan has been affected by various government interventions, just like the entire market. What differentiates us from our competitors is our wide product range, which has made us possible to spread the burden a little more evenly, thus keeping our operations stable.

– What is the biggest challenge in 2025?

-It is the fact that unpredictability has become a natural part of operations, practically a permanent feature. About this I always say: as long as all market players are in the same situation, there is no cause for concern, because the same rules apply to everyone.

– What values do you follow as a leader?

– In all my leadership roles, I have done my best to make sure that my team members do their work with enthusiasm and conviction. I would like to emphasise that the reason why Auchan needs new colleagues isn’t that the present team isn’t valuable enough. On the contrary, there is an incredible amount of knowledge and experience in this organisation. What really defines how we operate is our shared mindset.

– What has kept you going forward in recent decades?

– In Hungary I started out as a management trainee at Mars and immediately felt that I had entered a professional, people-oriented environment, where I could create real value and see how good leaders work. When I moved on to work for Mars in Germany, I worked on global projects at the company’s headquarters with colleagues from about 50 different countries. After that I joined Metro, where the management quickly recognised my ability to build communities.

– What is next for you and Auchan?

– The most important thing for me is to experience the journey ahead of us as a real adventure. If we enjoy our work, it creates a different quality at every level – not only in terms of results, but also in the quality of our cooperation. (x)