Ahold Delhaize has announced that Wouter Kolk will be taking up his role as CEO for Europe and Indonesia immediately, three months earlier than originally planned.
Realising growth potential
Kolk is succeeding Pierre Bouchut, who is retiring. “We are pleased that Wouter is starting three months earlier than planned, so as to fully realise the growth potential we have in Europe”, says CEO Frans Muller. “Under Wouter’s leadership we will be focusing on the support of our great local brands, executing local strategies, developing scaleable competences and promotions for our customers.”
Besides that, Kolk will become responsible for the digital aspect, e-commerce and purchase opportunities in all of Europe. He will be developing in-house market expertise and make full use of new business prospects in the region, supported by a small team consisting of a financial director, an HR director and a head of strategy. Ahold Delhaize is currently recruiting people for these functions.
Kolk is known as a proponent of accelerating innovation at Albert Heijn and at Delhaize, which falls under his purview. Recent examples of relevant innovation according to Kolk are the My Groceries app and the cash register-free AH To Go stores. He is also thinking of a delivery service for warm meals.
