In a significant corporate development, Dutch brewing giant Heineken NV announced on Monday, 12 January 2026, that its Chief Executive Officer, Dolf van den Brink, will step down from his role. The resignation marks the end of his six-year tenure at the helm of one of the world's largest beer makers.
The Official Announcement and Transition Plan
According to an official press release from the company, Dolf van den Brink will formally leave his position on 31 May 2026. In a statement, van den Brink explained his decision, linking it to the company's strategic cycle. He stated that he believes this is the appropriate time for a leadership transition as Heineken gears up for the next phase of its long-term EverGreen strategy.
"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 said.
The company's board has immediately initiated a process to find his successor. To ensure a smooth handover, van den Brink has agreed to remain available to Heineken in an advisory capacity for an eight-month period starting 1 June 2026. This arrangement is designed to give the new leadership access to his deep industry knowledge and experience within the company.
Challenging Market Conditions Behind the Move
The CEO's resignation comes against a backdrop of challenging market conditions for the global brewer. Reports from agencies like Bloomberg highlight that this move follows a profitability warning issued by Heineken in October 2025.
The company had alerted investors that its annual profit would likely fall short of expectations. This forecast was attributed to weaker-than-anticipated growth in key markets, notably Europe and the Americas. The global brewing industry has been grappling with shifting consumer drinking trends, which have impacted sales volumes.
Specifically, Heineken revised its guidance, stating that the expected adjusted operating profit growth for the fiscal year would likely be at the lower end of its previously forecast range of 4% to 8%. Furthermore, the company, which also owns popular brands like Tecate and Amstel, indicated that beer volumes were expected to fall modestly, contradicting earlier predictions of stability.
Strategic Shifts and the Road Ahead
In response to these market headwinds, Heineken had already begun pivoting its strategy. During a capital markets day in October 2025, the company outlined plans to concentrate its growth efforts on 17 key markets while reducing investment in some of its other brands.
Peter Wennink, Chairman of the Heineken Supervisory Board, commented on the future direction. "The next phase will focus on bringing this strategy to life through disciplined execution of our strategic growth ambitions. With this in mind, the Supervisory Board agrees this is the right moment to start the succession process to secure strong leadership for the future," he stated.
The departure of Dolf van den Brink signifies a pivotal moment for Heineken as it navigates a complex global landscape for beer manufacturers. The search for a new CEO will be closely watched by investors and industry analysts, who will be keen to see how the new leadership steers the company through its ongoing transformation and challenges in consumer demand.
