The Dutch retailer Ahold Delhaize appoints Jolanda Poots-Bijl as CFO

Jolanda Poots-Bijl has been appointed as the newest CFO and member of the Management Board at Ahold Delhaize. In mid-August, she will become the EVP of Finance and a member of the Executive Committee at the Dutch retailer. On 1 October, she will begin her role as the Chief Financial Officer following an initiation period. Natalie Knight, the current CFO, will depart from the company in early July.

Jolanda Poots-Bijl, who is 53 years old, has worked in various financial positions for nearly three decades. Poots-Bijl joins the grocery conglomerate from the construction company Royal van Oord, where she has held the position of Chief Financial Officer since 2016. She previously served as CFO at firms including Ordina (ICT) and Volker Wessels (construction), and served on the supervisory board of firms such as AkzoNobel, Pon Holdings, and Blokker.

“Ahold Delhaize is a business that plays an important role in the daily life of many people, from the emphasis on affordable healthy eating to the transition of food retail into a more sustainable system,” commented Jolanda Poots-Bijl. “Ahold Delhaize is therefore in a good position to address some of the challenges of our time, and I am honored to become part of the team. I look forward to getting to know the people, the business, and the customers.”

“I am excited that Jolanda will be joining our company,” said Frans Muller, Chief Executive Officer. “She is a seasoned CFO with broad international working experience and a passion for digital transformation and sustainability. She has relevant experience in a wide range of sectors and brings finance leadership that can help us deliver our Leading Together strategy. She is a passionate leader with a keen eye for talent development and will be a strong addition to our Executive team. We look forward to welcoming her.” Frans Muller was recently ranked No. 100 in a list of the world’s best CEOs for 2023.

“It is with great delight that we welcome Jolanda to the company. She will bring passionate finance leadership to the Ahold Delhaize Management Board,” Peter Agnefjäll, Chair of the Supervisory Board, said. “She has a track record of shaping strategy, and will drive implementation from a strong functional leadership position, without losing sight of the operations of our great local brands.”