RUSSELS, Belgium, September 12, 2011 - Delhaize Group (Euronext Brussels: DELB - NYSE: DEG), the Belgian international food retailer, announced today the creation of a Delhaize Europe organization that will be led by Stéfan Descheemaeker. Additionally, Dirk Van den Berghe, currently serving as Senior Vice President Logistics, Procurement and Quality of Delhaize Belgium, is appointed Chief Operating Officer of Delhaize Belgium. Effective January 1, 2012, he will become Chief Executive Officer of Delhaize Belgium and succeed Michel Eeckhout who will continue as Executive Vice President of Delhaize Group and member of its Executive Committee, supporting key growth projects of the group.
Delhaize Europe
Effective January 1, 2012, Delhaize Group is setting up a new organization called Delhaize Europe that will encompass the operations of Delhaize Belgium and Southeastern Europe. Delhaize Europe’s objectives are to increase the collaboration between the European operating companies, fully leverage the scale of the European operations and generate cost savings and facilitate the sharing of best practices so as to provide a stronger platform for local, regional as well as global growth. Delhaize Europe’s operating companies will benefit from Delhaize Europe’s regional support services including areas of finance, human resources, legal, IT and procurement.
Delhaize Europe will be led by Stéfan Descheemaeker, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Delhaize Group and member of the Delhaize Group Executive Committee. A search to replace him as Chief Financial Officer is currently ongoing.
As from January 1, 2012, Delhaize Belgium, and Delhaize Group Southeastern Europe will report directly to Stéfan Descheemaeker who will continue to serve as Executive Vice President of Delhaize Group and member of its Executive Committee.
Delhaize Southeastern Europe
Kostas Macheras, will, as a member of the Delhaize Group Executive Committee, continue to lead the Southeastern Europe operations in his capacity of Chief Executive Officer of the region. Kostas Macheras is a seasoned and successful food retail executive who will fully leverage the new organisation to foster our growth in that part of Europe. Kostas Macheras will report to Stéfan Descheemaeker as from January 1, 2012.
Delhaize Belgium
As of January 1, 2012, Dirk Van den Berghe will become Chief Executive Officer of Delhaize Belgium, reporting to Stéfan Descheemaeker. Effective today, Dirk Van den Berghe is appointed Chief Operating Officer of Delhaize Belgium, reporting to Michel Eeckhout, Chief Executive Officer until the end of 2011. In this role, Dirk Van den Berghe will be responsible for retail, procurement and wholesale operations, strategy, marketing, communication, corporate development and logistics. Dirk Van den Berghe has served in different countries and positions across the Group, most recently as Senior Vice President Logistics, Procurement and Quality of Delhaize Belgium.
In his position as Executive Vice President of Delhaize Group and member of its Executive Committee, Michel Eeckhout will continue to serve the group and contribute to key growth projects. He has successfully led Delhaize Belgium since July 2007.
Pierre-Olivier Beckers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Delhaize Group, said: “The creation of Delhaize Europe is an important step for Delhaize Group fully in line with our New Game Plan strategy. The growth of our European operations, especially after the recent acquisition of Delta Maxi in Southeastern Europe and our learnings with the Delhaize America organization set up in early 2010, have convinced us to set up this structure dedicated to fully leverage the scale of the business, create synergies and share best practices while taking into account cultural and local differences in the region. The resulting benefits will provide additional resources to the European operating companies in support of their go-to-market strategies. I know the Group can count on Stéfan’s demonstrated skills in performance, growth and cost management to successfully lead this new organization into the future.”
With respect to Delhaize Belgium Pierre-Olivier Beckers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Delhaize Group, said: “I want to thank Michel for his many years of leadership at Delhaize Belgium achieving a very successful price re-positioning and further strengthening the efficiency of the organization. These are solid foundations on which Dirk Van den Berghe and his Belgian team can continue to build, fully benefiting from their intimate knowledge of the organization.”
Delhaize Group
Delhaize Group is a Belgian international food retailer present in eleven countries on three continents. At the end of the second quarter of 2011, Delhaize Group’s sales network consisted of 2 842 stores. In 2010, Delhaize Group posted EUR 20.8 billion (USD 27.6 billion) in revenues and EUR 574 million (USD 762 million) in net profit (Group share). At the end of the second quarter of 2011, Delhaize Group employed approximately 143 000 people. Delhaize Group’s stock is listed on NYSE Euronext Brussels (DELB) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEG).
