Heineken has announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Dolf van den Brink, will step down from his role in May, with the company initiating a search for a successor.
In a statement released on Monday, the Dutch brewing giant said van den Brink decided in consultation with Heineken’s Supervisory Board, describing it as the right time to hand over leadership as the company prepares for its next phase of growth.
“Dolf has concluded, in consultation with the Supervisory Board, that this is the right time to hand over his responsibilities,” Heineken said. “The Supervisory Board respects Dolf’s decision and will now initiate a search process to appoint a successor.”
Van den Brink, who has spent 28 years at Heineken and served as CEO for the past six years, took over leadership in June 2020 from Jean-François van Boxmeer. His tenure coincided with the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he steered the company through supply chain challenges and shifting consumer behaviour.
He will remain in an advisory role for eight months after stepping down and currently also serves as chairman of Heineken’s executive board.
Slowing Global Beer Market
His departure comes as the world’s second-largest brewer faces a sluggish global beer market and mounting investor pressure. While Heineken recorded volume growth of 1.6 percent and revenue growth of 5 percent in FY2024, the company warned in October that 2025 would be a difficult year, citing macroeconomic volatility, inflationary pressures and currency devaluations linked to a stronger euro. The brewer said it expects modest volume declines and profits at the lower end of guidance for FY2025.
Commenting on his decision, van den Brink said the company had reached a point in its transformation where a leadership transition would best support its long-term ambitions under the EverGreen Strategy 2030.
Heineken is not alone among major beverage companies undergoing leadership changes. Coca-Cola is set to hand over leadership to Henrique Braun in March, while Diageo recently appointed former Tesco chief Sir Dave Lewis as CEO following Debra Crew’s departure.
