As Heineken announced this morning, Dolf van den Brink has informed the Supervisory Board of his decision to step down from his position as CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board on 31 May 2026, concluding nearly six years at the helm and more than 28 years with the group. The Supervisory Board has initiated a succession process, while van den Brink will remain available in an advisory role for eight months from 1 June 2026 to support continuity.
According to the statement, the timing reflects a planned leadership transition as Heineken moves from strategy definition to execution under EverGreen 2030. The program focuses on strengthening premium and non-alcoholic brands, accelerating growth in key markets such as India, Vietnam and Africa, and advancing digitalization across the group. Van den Brink said the company has reached a stage where a handover best supports its long-term ambitions.
The change comes amid a more challenging operating environment. In late 2025, Heineken adopted a more cautious tone on its business outlook, citing weaker beer demand in Europe and the Americas as well as softer spirits consumption in Western markets. At that time, the brewer maintained its target of 4–8% organic operating profit growth, with expectations positioned toward the lower end of the range and modest volume pressure (inside.beer, 23.10.2025).
In response, Heineken is sharpening its strategic focus, prioritizing investment behind its most important brands while reviewing the breadth of its overall portfolio. This reflects a broader effort to allocate capital more selectively as market conditions remain uneven across regions.
From a governance perspective, continuity remains a key consideration. The legacy of the Heineken family, long associated with stability at the top of the group, forms part of the company’s cultural backdrop, even as the Supervisory Board, chaired by Peter Wennink, emphasized that the transition is deliberate rather than reactive. The board underlined that the succession process aims to secure leadership capable of delivering disciplined execution of EverGreen 2030.
Van den Brink’s international career within Heineken, including senior leadership roles in the USA, Mexico and the Asia-Pacific region, has shaped the group’s emphasis on emerging markets during his tenure. That focus is expected to remain central as the search for his successor progresses.
