Ahold Delhaize announces start date for future President and CEO Thierry Garnier
Zaandam, the Netherlands, October 21, 2026 – Ahold Delhaize today announces that future President and CEO Thierry Garnier will join the company on January 11, 2027 as EVP Ahold Delhaize. He will start as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a member of the Management Board of Ahold Delhaize at close of business on March 3, 2027.
The Supervisory Board nominated Thierry in May 2026 to succeed Frans Muller. His appointment was approved by shareholders at the recent Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (EGM) on October 13, 2026. Thierry’s appointment as a member of the Management Board is for a four-year term, ending at the close of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) to be held in 2031.
Thierry will spend significant time in Ahold Delhaize’s markets with our brands to get to know our business, customers and people as part of his onboarding before his tenure as President and CEO begins.
Frans will retire from Ahold Delhaize and step down as President and CEO and as a member of the Management Board at close of business on March 3, 2027. He will remain fully responsible for leading the company until that date and will work with Thierry and the Supervisory Board to support a smooth and orderly transition.
This press release includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by certain words, such as “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future periods.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and that may cause the actual results of Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V. (the “Company”) to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a material difference include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the Company’s inability to successfully implement its strategy, manage the growth of its business or realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions; risks relating to competition and pressure on profit margins in the food retail industry; the impact of economic conditions, including high levels of inflation, on consumer spending; changes in consumer expectations and preferences; turbulence in the global capital markets; political developments, natural disasters and pandemics; wars and geopolitical conflicts; climate change; energy supply issues; raw material scarcity and human rights developments in the supply chain; disruption of operations and other factors negatively affecting the Company’s suppliers; the unsuccessful operation of the Company’s franchised and affiliated stores; changes in supplier terms and the inability to pass on cost increases to prices; risks related to environmental, social and governance matters (including performance) and sustainable retailing; risks related to data management and data privacy; food safety issues resulting in product liability claims.