2009-11-05 08:09:02 -
London, November , 05, 2009
Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Ahold today announced a series of
changes in its European and US businesses to create a strong platform
for future growth.
The reorganization in both continents delineates the responsibility
for running operations, supporting the operations, and business
development. The changes will ensure a sharper focus on local
customer needs, provide efficient and effective support functions in
each continent, and a more robust approach to business development.
The changes will further simplify and standardize processes and
structure to ensure the company can integrate acquisitions more
easily, as it pursues its strategy for profitable growth.
Dick Boer, the COO for Ahold Europe, member of the Corporate
Executive Board, and CEO of Ahold Netherlands, continues to be
responsible for all European activities and has appointed Sander van
der Laan to head Albert Heijn as its new general manager. Van der
Laan will return to the Netherlands from his current role at
Giant-Carlisle in the United States to start in January 2010.
Lawrence Benjamin, the COO for Ahold USA and member of the Corporate
Executive Board, continues to be responsible for all US operations
and has appointed Carl Schlicker as CEO of four newly reorganized US
Divisions - Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop Metro New York,
Giant-Landover and Giant-Carlisle.
Commenting on the global reorganization, Ahold's CEO John Rishton
said "The changes we have announced today build a strong platform for
future growth. We are further simplifying and streamlining our
businesses and will be able to provide even greater focus on our
customers. The changes will also allow Dick Boer and Larry Benjamin
to devote more time to growth opportunities in existing and new
markets."
Ahold Press Office: +31 20 509 5291
Ahold Investor Relations: +31 20 509 5216
Cautionary notice
This press release includes forward-looking statements, which do not
refer to historical facts but refer to expectations based on
management's current views and assumptions and involve known and
unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results,
performance or events to differ materially from those included in
such statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, statements as to delineation of responsibilities,
Ahold's sharper focus on local customer needs, support functions and
business development, integration of acquisitions and future growth.
These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties
and other factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from future results expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties
relate to factors that are beyond Ahold's ability to control or
estimate precisely, such as the effect of general economic or
political conditions, fluctuations in exchange rates or interest
rates, increases or changes in competition, Ahold's ability to
implement and complete successfully its plans and strategies, the
benefits from and resources generated by Ahold's plans and strategies
being less than or different from those anticipated, changes in
Ahold's liquidity needs, the actions of competitors and third parties
and other factors discussed in Ahold's public filings. Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
Koninklijke Ahold N.V. does not assume any obligation to update any
public information or forward-looking statements (referred to) in
this press release to reflect subsequent events or circumstances,
except as may be required by securities laws. Outside the
Netherlands, Koninklijke Ahold N.V., being its registered name,
presents itself under the name of "Royal Ahold" or simply "Ahold".
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