Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ahold today announced the appointment of CEO Dick Boer as co-chair of the Consumer Goods Forum, the global, parity-based industry network that brings together the CEOs and senior management of over 400 retailers, manufacturers and other stakeholders across 70 countries. The other co-chair appointed today is Nestlé CEO Paul Bulcke. Today’s announcement was made following the meeting of the CGF Board of Directors in Tokyo.
Commenting on his election, Dick Boer said: “Ahold has been working with the CGF for many years, and we are honored to be involved at such a high level now. The CGF is uniquely positioned to drive the vision of the industry and encourage real change. Its ability to bring companies together for the good of our customers makes the work of the CGF both relevant and important. I am looking forward to contributing to the CGF’s international practices and to encouraging collaboration across all levels of the CGF membership.”
The pair will replace outgoing chairs Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company and Gareth Ackerman, Chairman of Pick ‘n’ Pay. Both Dick Boer and Paul Bulcke emphasized their gratitude to Mr Kent and Mr Ackerman for their outstanding contribution to the CGF over recent years, and thanked them on behalf of the Board for their exceptional leadership.
The Forum was created in June 2009, and is governed by its Board of Directors, which includes 50 manufacturer and retailer CEOs and Chairmen. The Forum provides a global platform for knowledge exchange and initiatives around five strategic priorities – Emerging Trends, Sustainability, Safety & Health, Operational Excellence, and Knowledge Sharing & People Development – which are central to the advancement of today’s consumer goods industry.
The Forum’s vision is: “Better lives through better business.” To fulfill this, its members have given the Forum a mandate to develop common positions on key strategic and operational issues affecting the consumer goods business, such as providing consumers with healthier choices, and with more information on the company’s products and services.
With its headquarters in Paris and its regional offices in Washington, D.C., and Tokyo, the CGF serves its members throughout the world. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of over 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers and other stakeholders across 70 countries, and reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Forum member companies have combined sales of €2.5 trillion. Their retailer and manufacturer members directly employ nearly 10 million people with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain.
