Heineken Chief Executive Dolf van den Brink resigned unexpectedly on Monday, January 12, after nearly six years steering the world’s second-largest brewer through COVID-19 shutdowns, inflation and slumping beer demand, with shares dropping up to 4 per cent in early trading.
Heineken CEO Dolf van den Brink
The 52-year-old, who took over in June 2020, will depart on May 31 but stay on as adviser for eight months, as the supervisory board hunts a successor to drive the fresh EverGreen Strategy 2030 targeting sales growth, profit gains and cost cuts in select markets like Nigeria and Vietnam.
Van den Brink faced criticism for lagging rivals on efficiency and returns amid weather woes, geopolitical shocks, younger drinkers’ shifting tastes and weight-loss drugs denting consumption, plus a 2025 European pricing row that yanked products from shelves.
Supervisory board chair Peter Wennink said the timing suits executing long-term goals, with van den Brink pledging full focus until exit after acquisitions in India, South Africa and major restructurings.
