Ahold Delhaize USA CEO Kevin Holt will step down from his positions at the company in 2023, the retail giant revealed during its recent shareholders meeting. Holt will step down from the management board when his term expires at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of shareholders on April 12, 2023. At that time, Ahold Delhaize will nominate JJ Fleeman (pictured) to take over as CEO and board member.
Fleeman’s appointment to the Ahold Delhaize’s management board will be subject to shareholder approval at the AGM. Holt plans to remain with Ahold Delhaize USA in an advisory capacity until he retires at the end of 2023.
Fleeman has served as president of Peapod Digital Labs and chief commercial and digital officer of Ahold Delhaize USA since May 2018.
With Peapod Digital Labs, the retailer’s digital, e-commerce and commercial engine in the U.S., Fleeman has been responsible for enabling the local brands in the U.S. to drive omnichannel grocery experiences.
Peter Agnefjall, chair of the supervisory board of Ahold Delhaize, stated: “[Fleeman] is an inspiring leader who will advance the U.S. businesses through omnichannel market share growth and who will continue to deliver on the Connected Customer strategy that [Holt] has so carefully developed and implemented with the team over the past few years.”
Fleeman has spent the majority of his 30-year career in grocery retail with Ahold Delhaize companies, including Food Lion, the largest U.S. brand, serving in various executive leadership roles and covering strategy, commercial, digital, retail operations, marketing and merchandising. He will continue to be based in Salisbury, North Carolina, and spend time across other U.S. offices.
“My time at the companies of Ahold Delhaize USA have been some of the best years of my career in retail,” Holt said. “I’m very proud of how our teams have ensured that our brands remain locally relevant and serve customers through our omnichannel offerings.”