FRANKFURT, Feb 20, 2008 (AFP) - The German fashion house Hugo Boss might appoint Hans Fluri as interim head of the company to replace chief executive Bruno Saelzer who stepped down last week, a press report said on Wednesday February 14th.

Bruno Sälzer

Fluri is currently chief executive of the German parcel shipping service DPD, and his contract was set to expire at the end of this month, the business daily Handelsblatt reported, citing company sources.

He previously oversaw international expansion of the tobacco product maker Philip Morris.

Hugo Boss's supervisory board was to meet on Wednesday, but no decision on a replacement for Saelzer was expected immediately, the newspaper said.

Fluri declined to comment on the matter, it added.

Saelzer resigned from his post unexpectedly last week owing to disagreements over the fashion company's future strategy.

Hugo Boss was bought last year by private equity company, Permira, which previously took over Boss' parent company Valentino Fashion Group.