Ahold Delhaize: shareholders validate Thierry Garnier as future CEO in 2027
Gathered in an extraordinary general meeting on October 13, 2026, the distributor's shareholders validated the arrival of Frans Muller's designated successor. They also approved the appointment of new leaders of the American and European divisions to the management board, as well as a nomination to the supervisory board.
A four-member management board, a new supervisory board member
In addition to Thierry Garnier, the meeting appointed Claire Peters and Margaret Versteden-Van Duijn as members of the Management Board. It also designated Edmond Mesrobian as the new member of the supervisory board, presented by the group as a leader from the technology and digital sector.
Claire Peters and Margaret Versteden-Van Duijn have already taken up their new positions, respectively leading Ahold Delhaize USA and Ahold Delhaize Europe & Indonesia. With their arrival, the management board now has four members: Frans Muller (President and CEO), Jolanda Poots-Bijl (CFO), Claire Peters (CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA) and Margaret Versteden-Van Duijn (CEO of Ahold Delhaize Europe & Indonesia).
Claire Peters joined the group in September. Margaret Versteden-Van Duijn has worked there for more than ten years, within Bol, Albert Heijn, Etos and Gall & Gall.
Thierry Garnier will succeed Frans Muller in 2027
Thierry Garnier will join Ahold Delhaize and succeed Frans Muller as President and CEO and member of the management board in 2027, on a date to be set by the supervisory board. The press release refers to a previous announcement by the group entitled "Frans Muller to retire from the company in 2027". Until then, Frans Muller continues to lead the group during the transition, according to the chairman of the supervisory board.
Wiebe Draijer, chairman of the supervisory board, recalled Frans Muller's role in the merger between Ahold and Delhaize Group and thanked him for "his solid leadership and commitment". During the meeting, Thierry Garnier indicated that he had spent most of his 30-year career in this sector.
According to the company, these appointments are part of the continuation of its Growing Together strategy, based notably on its local brands, digital transformation and discipline in capital allocation.
