Heineken CEO Dolf van den Brink to step down
Heineken announces leadership transition as CEO Dolf van den Brink prepares to exit after nearly six years.
NETHERLANDS – Heineken has announced that its chief executive officer, Dolf van den Brink, will step down from his role amid persistent weak consumer demand and rising alcohol moderation trends that continue to challenge the global beer industry.
Van den Brink, who assumed the CEO position in June 2020, will vacate the role on 31 May, bringing to a close his 28-year career with the Dutch brewing group.
The 52-year-old has led Heineken through a period marked by economic volatility, geopolitical uncertainty, and structural shifts in global alcohol consumption.
During his tenure, van den Brink oversaw the implementation of Heineken’s EverGreen strategy, designed to strengthen the brewer’s long-term performance.
While the strategy helped guide the company through transformation efforts, Heineken still faced headwinds, including a challenging third quarter last year that saw beer volumes decline.
Despite the ongoing pressures in the beer market, Heineken’s supervisory board has agreed that this is an appropriate moment to begin a leadership transition.
The company will now initiate a formal search for van den Brink’s successor. To ensure continuity, he has also agreed to remain available to the group in an advisory capacity for eight months starting 1 June 2026.
Commenting on his decision, van den Brink said: “After six years as CEO and more than 28 years at Heineken, I believe this is the right moment to transition leadership as the company prepares for the next phase of the EverGreen strategy.”
He added: “The past years have been marked by significant change as Heineken progressed through its transformation and has now reached a stage where a transition in leadership will best serve the company in further executing its long-term ambitions.”
Van den Brink also stressed his continued commitment to the company, stating: “Over the coming months, I remain fully focused on disciplined execution of our strategy and to ensure a smooth transition.”
Peter Wennink, chairman of Heineken’s supervisory board, praised van den Brink’s contribution to the business.
“The supervisory board is grateful to Dolf for his leadership and long-standing commitment to Heineken, including guiding the company through a demanding period of transformation, delivering on EverGreen 2025 while navigating a challenging external environment,” Wennink said.
He added: “With the launch of EverGreen 2030, Dolf has set out a compelling strategy for the future of Heineken, and the supervisory board greatly values his contribution.”
The announcement follows Heineken’s warning in October that annual profits would land at the lower end of expectations after third-quarter volume declines. The brewer has been grappling with weak demand, particularly in Europe and the Americas, amid broader macroeconomic uncertainty.
As part of its updated five-year growth strategy, Heineken has said it will focus on five key brands across 17 global markets as it seeks to restore momentum.
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