Heineken CEO to Depart, Setting Stage for New Era

AMSTERDAM, NL – January 12, 2026 – HEINEKEN N.V. announced today that its Chief Executive Officer, Dolf van den Brink, will step down on May 31, 2026, marking the end of a nearly six-year tenure defined by profound transformation and significant headwinds. The news of the planned departure sent the brewing giant's shares tumbling as much as 3.2% in Amsterdam, reflecting investor uncertainty as the company prepares for a new chapter.

The Supervisory Board has initiated a search for a successor to steer the world's second-largest brewer through the next phase of its long-term strategy, EverGreen 2030, which was unveiled just months ago. Van den Brink, a 28-year company veteran, will remain in an advisory capacity for eight months after his departure to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

A Tenure Forged in Turbulence

Appointed in June 2020, Dolf van den Brink took the helm amidst the unprecedented disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shuttered bars and restaurants globally. His leadership was immediately tested by a cascade of challenges, including soaring inflation, volatile supply chains, and shifting consumer habits.

Under his guidance, HEINEKEN launched its EverGreen 2025 strategy, a comprehensive plan designed to adapt to the fast-changing world. A key pillar of this strategy was a relentless focus on productivity, which successfully delivered over €3 billion in gross savings. These efficiencies were crucial in helping the company counteract inflationary pressures. Van den Brink also oversaw significant restructuring, including a plan to reduce 8,000 jobs in 2021 and a streamlining of the company's headquarters, as part of a broader effort to create a more agile organization.

Despite these efforts, his tenure was marked by persistent market challenges. In October 2025, HEINEKEN issued a profit warning, citing weaker performance in European and American markets and anticipating that operating profit growth would be at the lower end of its guided range. It was the second time that year the company had cut its volume guidance, a move that frustrated investors and led to analyst commentary that the brewer had underperformed its peers.

In a statement, van den Brink framed his departure as a strategic decision. “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 said. “The past years have been marked by significant change... and has now reached a stage where a transition in leadership will best serve the Company in further executing its long-term ambitions.”

The EverGreen Legacy and the Path to 2030

The next phase van den Brink referred to is EverGreen 2030, the ambitious long-term plan launched in October 2025. Building on its predecessor, the strategy aims to deliver "superior and balanced growth" by simplifying its priorities to three core areas: accelerating growth, stepping up productivity, and future-fitting the organization.

The plan sets clear financial targets, including mid-single-digit organic net revenue growth and an additional €400-500 million in annual gross savings. Central to this is a massive digital transformation, underpinned by a multi-year, €1+ billion investment in a "Digital Backbone" to modernize operations across more than 70 markets. The strategy also sharpens the company’s market focus on 17 key "Growth Markets," including emerging powerhouses like India, Vietnam, and Mexico, while reaffirming its commitment to sustainability with new net-zero and water-efficiency targets.

Peter Wennink, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, expressed gratitude for van den Brink's leadership, noting he guided the company "through a demanding period of transformation" and that "with the launch of EverGreen 2030, Dolf has set out a compelling strategy for the future of HEINEKEN."

The timing of the departure, however, places a significant burden on the incoming CEO, who will be tasked not with creating a vision, but with executing an already-defined, highly ambitious one. The success of EverGreen 2030 will depend entirely on the new leader's ability to translate its strategic pillars into tangible results and, crucially, restore investor confidence.

The Search for a Successor

The Supervisory Board's search for a new leader comes at a critical juncture. While HEINEKEN has a history of promoting from within—van den Brink himself rose through the ranks over nearly three decades—the pressure to deliver on missed targets may lead the board to consider external candidates who can bring a fresh perspective.

The market will be watching closely for a leader who can tackle the company's recent profitability issues head-on. Analysts suggest a change at the top may be what the company needs to break from its cycle of underperformance relative to competitors. The ideal candidate will need a proven track record in driving growth in the complex global consumer goods sector, a deep understanding of digital transformation, and the commercial acumen to navigate both mature and emerging markets.

Whoever takes the role inherits a portfolio with significant strengths, particularly in the premium and non-alcoholic segments. The flagship Heineken® brand has shown robust growth, and Heineken 0.0 continues to lead in the burgeoning "NoLo" (no- and low-alcohol) category. The challenge will be to leverage these bright spots to lift the company's overall performance and consistently meet financial guidance.

Navigating an Evolving Industry

The leadership transition at HEINEKEN is not happening in a vacuum. The entire global beverage industry is grappling with fundamental shifts in consumer behavior. The trend towards alcohol moderation, especially among younger demographics, is putting sustained pressure on beer volumes in developed markets. Simultaneously, the rise of weight-loss drugs has introduced a new layer of uncertainty for the entire food and beverage sector.

In response, major brewers are aggressively diversifying. The growth of premium beers, craft-style offerings, and non-alcoholic alternatives represents the industry's primary path to growth. HEINEKEN's strategic focus on these areas under van den Brink has positioned it well, but the competition with rivals like AB InBev and Carlsberg is fierce. All major players are pursuing similar strategies centered on premiumization, sustainability, and digital efficiency.

The next CEO of HEINEKEN will therefore need to be not only an effective operator capable of executing the EverGreen 2030 plan but also a nimble strategist. They must continue to innovate in a market where consumer tastes are fragmenting while simultaneously managing the persistent challenges of cost inflation and geopolitical volatility. The task ahead is to prove that HEINEKEN's long-term vision can deliver superior growth in an industry that promises to remain turbulent for the foreseeable future.