Ahold Delhaize appoints Alex Holt as its chief sustainability officer

Ahold Delhaize, the Dutch parent of U.S. supermarket chains such as Stop & Shop, Giant and Food Lion, has named Alex Holt as its chief sustainability officer and a member of the executive committee.

Zaandam, Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize said Tuesday that Holt will replace Jan Ernst de Groot, global chief legal and sustainability officer, who is set retire at the end of May. Linn Evans, currently  chief legal officer and general counsel at Ahold Delhaize USA, will assume the role of chief legal officer for Ahold Delhaize starting April 15. 

In her new role, Holt will also focus on the company’s strategies and goals around sustainability.

“I am very excited to join Ahold Delhaize, a company that wants to contribute positively to the transition to a sustainable food system,” said Holt in a statement. “I am looking forward to partnering with the executive team, sustainability and business leaders across the company and across the industry to tackle the challenges that we face together, and seize the opportunities that create the biggest impact.”

Holt currently serves as the chief sustainability officer and member of the executive committee at Australia and New Zealand retailer Woolworths Group. She has held the position since June 2021.

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Before joining Woolworths in 2011, Holt held a number of roles across Woolworths Group’s supermarket business, leading various commercial teams, before becoming general manager of sustainability, health and quality in April 2016. Prior to Woolworths Group, She worked at Tesco, where she spent seven years in a number of roles in business improvement, merchandising and sourcing.

“I am very happy that Alex will join our executive committee as our new chief sustainability officer,” said Frans Muller, president and CEO of Ahold Delhaize, in a statement. “She brings relevant experience from a food retail, business leadership and sustainability perspective. She is a sharp thinker and inspiring leader with a deep understanding of the challenges and impact that this role brings in a food retail company with ambitions with regard to health, nature and climate.”