Douglas Group Taps Former Etos CEO Sebastiaan de Jong as New CEO for Benelux Region

Starting mid-August, Douglas Group, a major European beauty retailer, will see Sebastiaan de Jong, formerly CEO of Etos and a veteran of Ahold, step in as the new CEO for the Netherlands and Belgium (Benelux). This transition follows the departure of the current regional head, Willem Duthler, who is stepping down for personal reasons.

Duthler, who has been with the Germany-based omnichannel beauty retailer for over 25 years, will leave his role on September 9. De Jong, joining on August 12, brings over 25 years of senior international retail experience in the European market, ensuring a smooth handover period before fully taking over the position.

De Jong’s most recent role was CEO of the Dutch drugstore chain Etos, a position he held until April 2023. His extensive background includes a 17-year career at Ahold Delhaize, where his last position was head of procurement for Europe until December 2021. He has also held significant roles, such as chief commercial officer at Intergamma and VP of store operations at Albert Heijn, showcasing his broad experience in various retail functions and organizations.

Sander van der Laan, CEO of Douglas Group, expressed confidence in De Jong’s abilities. Douglas Group highlighted De Jong’s “proven track record of strategically driving growth and innovation in the retail sector.” The company’s sales in the 2022/23 financial year reached $5.3 billion.

Duthler, who joined Douglas in 1998 and became CEO of the Netherlands in 2005, has held several key roles, including CEO positions in the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, and Switzerland, before taking on his current role in 2017. During his tenure, Douglas significantly expanded its market presence in the Netherlands and is now growing in Belgium. Van der Laan praised Duthler as “an invaluable leader, showing vision and dedication over the past 26 years.”

The Douglas Group operates around 1,860 stores under various brands, including Douglas, Nocibé, Parfumdreams, and Niche Beauty, claiming a leading position in premium beauty sales in Europe. Their product range includes fragrances, makeup, skincare, haircare, accessories, and beauty services.

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