Refurbed, the online marketplace for refurbished goods, has appointed ex-Zalando and N26 executive Jan Kemper to its advisory board.
Kemper is expected to support Reburbed management as they seek to strengthen the company's market position in Europe and further develop its sustainable business model.
He has worked as CFO and COO at fashion retail site Zalando, digital bank N26 and ProSiebenSat1, helping to scale their business models, drive international expansion and lead funding rounds.
At Zalando, he oversaw the preparation and execution of the company’s IPO and was instrumental in its strategic direction.
Commenting on his appointment, Kemper said: "My goal is to support the Management Team as a sparring partner, especially in the areas of Operational Excellence, Internationalisation, and Financing Strategy.
"I am excited to accompany refurbed on its growth journey. Sustainability and circular economy are key topics for the future, and refurbed is a true pioneer in this area.
"My goal is to leverage my experience to provide valuable insights."
Peter Windischhofer, co-founder and CEO of Refurbed, added: “It’s fantastic to have such a highly experienced and respected expert like Jan on our side. His commitment to building a sustainable future underscores the importance of our mission.”
With the addition of Kemper, Refurbed’s advisory board now comprises seven industry experts with diverse professional specialisations and backgrounds.
The board was established in 2020 to support the development of the company’s business model and advise its management team on strategic issues.
"The collaboration with our board has been incredibly helpful, especially during funding rounds and in continuously considering the impact our business model has on both business and the environment," said Windischhofer.
"Our board consists of seven nationalities and a diverse range of expertise, which provides us with invaluable knowledge and perspectives for our strategies.
"With Jan Kemper, we intend this to be the final addition to our board for the foreseeable future," he added, noting that management meets quarterly with the advisory board and maintains close communication with individual members between meetings.
Refurbed was founded in Vienna by Windischhofer, Kilian Kaminski and Jürgen Riedl in 2017 and now operates in 11 countries: Ireland, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, the Czech Republic and Portugal.
The company employs 300 people and its marketplace stocks 18,000 products, including smartphones, laptops and tablets, household appliances, e-bikes and sports accessories.
Before launching in Ireland in March 2021, Refurbed completed a $17m Series A round and then raised $54m in a Series B round in August 2021.
Photo: Jan Kemper (Pic: Franziska Kouidis)
