Ahold Delhaize has announced that Wouter Kolk, brand president of Albert Heijn, will commence the role of chief operating officer of the group's Europe and Indonesia businesses, effective 1 January next year.
Ahead of that, Kolk is to join the group's executive committee, taking the role of COO of the Netherlands and Belgium, effective 11 September.
Kolk will replace Pierre Bouchut as COO of the group's Europe and Indonesia businesses, who plans to retire at the end of the year. Bouchut was named COO Europe and Indonesia following the merger of Ahold and Delhaize Group last year, and served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Delhaize Group since 2012.
'Period of Change'
On Kolk's appointment Dick Boer, Ahold Delhaize chief executive said, “We are pleased that Wouter is overseeing the Netherlands and Belgium as from September and is intended to join the Management Board next year. In addition, he will continue to directly manage Albert Heijn.
"Wouter’s experience of leading Albert Heijn through a period of change will be particularly valuable in making our leading Belgian brand, Delhaize, the favorite supermarket in Belgium again."
Boer also thanked Bouchut for "his valuable role and significant contribution throughout the merger and in shaping Ahold Delhaize. He has been the driving force behind our ambitions in Europe, enabling us to deliver on synergies and enabling best practice sharing."
Elsewhere, the group announced that Xavier Piesvaux will be appointed as the new brand president for Delhaize Belgium and Luxembourg effective September 11. He succeeds Denis Knoops in the role.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
