Ahold Delhaize announces leadership changes in Europe and Belgium

• Wouter Kolk, Brand President of Albert Heijn, to be named Chief Operating Officer Europe and Indonesia effective January 1, 2019. Pierre Bouchut to retire in 2018.
• Effective immediately, Wouter Kolk will join the Executive Committee of Ahold Delhaize as Chief Operating Officer the Netherlands and Belgium, and will be nominated for appointment to the Management Board in 2018.
• Xavier Piesvaux will be appointed Brand President Delhaize Belgium and Luxembourg effective September 11, 2017, succeeding Denis Knoops.

Zaandam, the Netherlands, September 8, 2017 - Ahold Delhaize today announced that Pierre Bouchut, member of the Management Board and Chief Operating Officer Europe and Indonesia, will retire next year.

Pierre will step down from the Management Board and Executive Committee as of January 1, 2018 and will remain available as an adviser and for specific initiatives until July 1, 2018.  

Pierre became 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.

Dick Boer, CEO Ahold Delhaize: "We thank Pierre 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. Previously, as CFO of Delhaize Group he was instrumental instituting cost discipline and improving the company's free cash flow as well as its net debt position. We are grateful that Pierre has agreed to advise until the end of June to ensure a smooth handover and wish him all the best for the future. "

Wouter Kolk, Brand President of Albert Heijn, will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer Europe and Indonesia effective January 1, 2019. As a first step, he will join the Executive Committee as Chief Operating Officer the Netherlands and Belgium, effective September 11. He will be proposed for appointment to the Management Board at the 2018 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. The business segment Central and Southeastern Europe, and Indonesia will continue to report to Pierre until January and will then report to the CEO of Ahold Delhaize on an interim basis, until Wouter takes over in 2019.

Dick Boer, CEO Ahold Delhaize: "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.

 Delhaize Belgium and Luxembourg

Ahold Delhaize today also announced Xavier Piesvaux will be appointed as the new Brand President for Delhaize Belgium and Luxembourg effective September 11. He will report to Wouter and is succeeding Denis Knoops after Ahold Delhaize and Denis agreed to separate.

Dick Boer: "We thank Denis for his dedication and valuable contribution throughout 25 years, serving the company in a variety of commercial, operational, strategic, and real estate roles across Belgium, the United States, and Asia. Denis has led Delhaize during the last three years keeping it true to its strong 150-year heritage that has made it a leading brand in Belgium and Luxembourg. We wish him all the best for the future".

Xavier most recently was Senior Vice President for Walmart East Canada. Prior to that, he served as Brand President of Ahold Delhaize's Mega Image brand in Romania. During his tenure, he was instrumental in the development of the brand, helping Mega Image grow from 14 stores in 2006 to almost 500 when he left in 2015.           

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