Dutch drinks brand Heineken has announced that the CEO and chairman of the board, Dolf van den Brink, has decided to step down from his role on 31 May.

His departure comes after six years managing the company, where he oversaw the beer manufacturer during the Covid-19 pandemic and implemented the Evergreen Strategy 2030.

The supervisory board is set to search for a successor, and Van den Brink will remain part of the company in an advisory position for eight months starting on 1 June 2026.

According to Heineken, Van den Brink and the supervisory board concluded that it is the right time for him to give over his responsibilities.

“After six years as CEO and more than 28 years at Heineken, I believe this is the right moment to transition leadership as the company prepares for the next phase of the Evergreen strategy,” he said.

Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free

Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning

“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.”

Moving forward, the chief executive will focus on executing the strategy in the remaining months.

Peter Wennink, chairman of the supervisory board of Heineken said: “The Supervisory Board is grateful to Dolf for his leadership and long-standing commitment to Heineken, including guiding the Company through a demanding period of transformation, delivering on EverGreen 2025 while navigating a challenging external environment.”