DUTCH brewing giant Heineken has announced the appointment of Rafael Oliveira as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Dolf van den Brink, who stepped down unexpectedly in January after six years at the helm.
Oliveira, a former executive at coffee company JDE Peet’s, will assume the role pending shareholder approval.
His appointment comes at a challenging period for the brewer, which has experienced declining beer sales amid economic headwinds and rising energy costs.
In a statement released today, Heineken Supervisory Board Chairman Peter Wennink expressed confidence in Oliveira’s leadership, saying the company looks forward to building on its strong foundation and sustaining long-term, balanced growth under his direction.
The brewer reported a nearly one per cent decline in beer sales during the first quarter of the year and has described the global economic environment as increasingly complex.
Earlier in February, the company also unveiled plans to reduce its workforce by up to 6,000 jobs as part of efforts to improve efficiency.
Reacting to his appointment, Oliveira said he was committed to accelerating growth, boosting productivity, and positioning Heineken for future success while strengthening its connection with consumers around the world.
Van den Brink’s departure followed what the company described as a period of mixed performance, making Oliveira’s appointment a significant step in Heineken’s efforts to navigate current market challenges and drive renewed growth.
