Zdeslav Jolic

Strategic Retail Leader | Category Management & Procurement | Change Management Expert

Vienna, Vienna, Austria

About

Senior Executive | Category Management & Procurement | Retail Industry With over 15 years of experience driving category management and procurement strategies for leading European retail chains, I bring a proven track record of delivering results at scale. Authorized Signatory (Procurist) with senior management responsibility
 Leadership of 170+ professionals across BIPA, ADEG, and central category management & procurement teams
 Direct oversight of key functions: space management, master data, pricing & promotion management
 Accountable for €3B in annual sales volume
 Expert in change management, including successful company merger
 Strong negotiation skills for private label and branded goods
 Extensive experience in promotion planning and execution
 Languages: Fluent in German, English, Croatian; intermediate French (B1)


Experience

  • BILLA AG (Full-time · 5 yrs 7 mos)
    • Geschäftsleiter Category Management/ Einkauf
      Jul 2025 - Present · 1 yr

    • Einkaufsleiter Category Management Food, Near & Non Food
      May 2023 - Jul 2025 · 2 yrs 3 mos

      3 Milliarden € Umsatzverantwortung, 110 Mitarbeiter, Category Management und Einkauf für Rewe Österreich

    • Bereichsleiter CM / EK Food / Head of category management food Billa Merkur Austria
      Dec 2020 - May 2023 · 2 yrs 6 mos

  • Bereichsleitung Einkauf Int. Marke / Head of division fresh food Int. Brands Kaufland Stiftung at Kaufland Stiftung Co. & KG
    Oct 2018 - Dec 2020 · 2 yrs 3 mos

    Category Management and Purchase for DE+INT Fresh fish Convenience Cold Cuts For self service and counter

  • Bereichsleitung Kaufland Marken International / Senior Purchasing Manager Kaufland International at Kaufland Stiftung Co. KG
    Dec 2017 - Oct 2018 · 11 mos

    Basic food private label

  • Senior Category Manager / Buyer Discount International at REWE Group
    Dec 2013 - Dec 2017 · 4 yrs 1 mo

    - Purchase for Penny International (IT, AT, CZ, HU, RO, BG) and several articles for Billa Int. - artwork development - Categories: meat, sausages, oil, fat, basic food, bread and bake-off

  • Lidl Hrvatska d.o.o. k.d. (Zagreb)
    • Buyer
      Sep 2012 - Oct 2013 · 1 yr 2 mos

      Buyer Food - Category management - Product management (defining all steps in a product cyclus) - Quality management

    • Junior Buyer
      Apr 2011 - Sep 2012 · 1 yr 6 mos

      Junior Buyer Food - Category management - Quality management