Executive appointments at Royal Ahold

Zaandam, The Netherlands, July 12, 2000 - Royal Ahold, the international food provider, is further strengthening its management organization at corporate headquarters, Ahold Europe and Ahold USA. The executive appointments reflect Ahold’s goal to maximize benefits from its rapid worldwide growth, economies of scale and new technological opportunities. The Ahold Corporate Executive Board today announces the following appointments:

Corporate appointment
Effective September 1, 2000, Ronald van Solt has been appointed Corporate Senior Vice President Strategy and Planning. Van Solt is currently President and CEO, Albert Heijn, Ahold’s flagship Dutch supermarket operation, where he has been at the helm for the past three years. In his new position, he will support the Corporate Executive Board in the further development of global corporate strategy and associated activities. He reports to Michael Meurs, a member of the Ahold Corporate Executive Board.

European appointments
Effective September 1, 2000, Maarten Dorhout Mees has been appointed Executive Vice President European Business Development. Dorhout Mees is currently Corporate Senior Vice President Business Development. He has spearheaded various important new initiatives over the past three years. In his new position, he will focus on new business activities for Ahold’s European operations and joint ventures.

Effective September 1, 2000, Harry Bruijniks has been appointed Executive Vice President European Sourcing. Bruijniks is currently Executive Vice President Buying & Merchandising, Albert Heijn, a division he has headed for the past six years. In his new position, he will be responsible for European trading and sourcing on behalf of all Ahold operating companies and joint ventures in Europe. He reports to Jan Andreae.

Composition of Ahold European Competence Center
The Ahold European Competence Center promotes the exchange of knowledge and experience as well as close cooperation among Ahold operating companies and joint ventures in Europe, leading various major regional projects.
Effective September 1, 2000, the European Competence Center will comprise the following executives: Han Willemse, Managing Director and Logistics; Dirk Anbeek, Finance and Control; Dick Dijkstra, Information Technology; Arthur Brouwer, Human Resources and Management Development; Marcel Kokkeel, Real Estate; Maarten Dorhout Mees, Business Development; Wim van der Ster, Retail Development; Harry Bruijniks, European Trading and Sourcing. Dick Roozen, currently Vice President European Sourcing, has been appointed Vice President Global Sourcing and is therefore no longer a member of the European Competence Center. Within the Ahold Corporate Executive Board, Jan Andreae is responsible for European operations.

Recent appointments in the United States
Ahold announced various appointments in the United States a few weeks ago also aimed at further strengthening its corporate activities. Corporate Executive Board member Bob Tobin was appointed Chairman, Ahold USA. Bill Grize, currently President and CEO, Stop & Shop, was appointed President & CEO, Ahold USA. Steve Odland, President & CEO, Tops Markets, was appointed Chief Operating Officer, Ahold USA.

Centrally, at Ahold USA level, the company now has a small group of top managers directing the rapidly developing cooperation among the six operating companies, building on their local identity and strong brand names. The impact of increased cooperation is accelerating in the disciplines of Finance, Human Resources and Management Development, Logistics and Distribution, Sourcing, Private Label development, Information Technology, eCommerce, Real Estate, Retail Development and Marketing.

Appointments at Albert Heijn
Effective September 1, 2000, the Ahold Corporate Executive Board has appointed Dick Boer President and CEO, Albert Heijn, succeeding Ronald van Solt. Boer is a seasoned retailer and currently President and CEO, Ahold Czech Republic, where he has been instrumental in developing the Ahold hypermarkets and mini-hypers as well as the remodeling and expansion of the existing supermarket formats.

Effective September 1, 2000, the Ahold Corporate Executive Board has appointed Sjaak Kranendonk Executive Vice President Human Resources and Organization, Albert Heijn. He will also direct cooperation in this field among all Ahold Dutch operating companies. Kranendonk is currently President and CEO of Ahold’s Dutch operations Jamin and Ter Huurne.

Effective September 1, 2000, the Ahold Corporate Executive Board has named Tom Heidman as Executive Vice President Buying & Merchandising, Albert Heijn, succeeding Harry Bruijniks. Heidman is currently Executive Vice President Store Operations, Albert Heijn.

As of September 1, 2000, the Albert Heijn Executive Board will be composed as follows: Dick Boer, President and CEO; Henk Sterk, Logistics and Distribution; Joost Sliepenbeek, Finance; Tom Heidman, Buying and Merchandising; and Sjaak Kranendonk, Human Resources and Organization. The appointment of the Executive Vice President Store Operations will be announced shortly.

Remarks by Jan Andreae, member of the Ahold Corporate Executive Board
Commenting on the strengthening of Ahold’s European organization and the associated appointments, Jan Andreae, member of the Ahold Corporate Executive Board for European operations, said: ‘At Ahold, more and more activities are being undertaken jointly and directed centrally. This way, all operations - individually and collectively - benefit from our economies of scale while costs decrease. The impact to date has been particularly positive and continues to improve. The European Competence Center is being strengthened to spearhead these efforts. Our ability to fill these key positions internally is a credit to our own people as well as testimony to the success of our international Management Development program, as it has paved the way for the younger generation in our company to grow rapidly and also gain international experience.’

Andreae emphasized that Ahold’s global position is being used increasingly to reinforce its local activities. ‘In 24 countries, we now generate annualized sales approaching Euro 50 billion, of which Euro 20 billion in Europe alone. Our knowledge and experience are available to everyone within the organization. Various global and European initiatives in sourcing, IT, distribution, eCommerce, format development, private label and financial services are helping us drive cost out of the business and generate new and significant synergies, enabling us to compete even more effectively. And our 30 million customers benefit from these initiatives.’