Delhaize Group announces retirement of President and CEO Pierre-Olivier Beckers
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 8 May 2013 - Delhaize Group (Euronext, Brussels: DELB, NYSE:
DEG), the Belgian international food retailer, announces today that Pierre-
Olivier Beckers, its President and Chief Executive Officer, intends to retire
from his executive role by the end of this year and will continue to serve as a
company director.
As part of Delhaize's succession plan, Mr Beckers will stay in his post until a
new CEO is appointed and a smooth transition has taken place. He will continue
to serve on the Board, in a non-executive capacity, after stepping down as CEO.
Mr. Beckers joined Delhaize Group in 1983, has been a director of the company
since 1995 and was appointed President and CEO in January 1999. In almost 15
years as CEO he has led Delhaize Group during a period of fast change in the
global food retail environment.
Under Mr Beckers' leadership, Delhaize transformed itself from a Belgian company
with an international presence to an integrated group sharing the same vision
and values. Since 1999, the number of stores has grown from 1,904 to 3,411 in
ten countries on three continents, revenues grew from ?12.9 to ?22.6 billion.
More recently, Delhaize Group has increased its growth profile with 30.7 % of
the stores now located in growth markets, generating 14 % of the group's
revenues compared to less than 5% when Mr Beckers took office.
The Board of Directors is conducting a search for a successor and will consider
both internal and external candidates. It is actively engaged in the process to
facilitate a smooth and orderly transition of the CEO by the end of 2013.
Mats Jansson, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said: "Pierre-Olivier Beckers
has worked for Delhaize for 30 years with tireless energy and absolute passion,
displaying very strong values and great respect for people. As shown by our
recent results, business performance continues to strengthen following our
initiatives over recent years. This positions the company well for the future
and provides a great platform for his successor. Pierre-Olivier will lead the
company until a smooth transition has taken place and we look forward to
continue working with him as a colleague on the Board."
Pierre-Olivier Beckers said: "While serving this company and working with the
Board of Directors, great colleagues and great teams has been the most rewarding
job I can imagine, the Board of directors and I agree that the moment is right
to put in place a successor who will lead the group and its evolution into the
future. Until then I remain fully committed to leading and supporting the
company and its 158,000 associates."
Biographical details for Pierre-Olivier Beckers
Pierre-Olivier Beckers (1960). Mr. Beckers earned a Master's degree in applied
economics at I.A.G., Louvain-La-Neuve and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
He began working in the food retail industry in 1982 as a store manager for a
bakery chain in Belgium. Mr. Beckers joined Delhaize Group in 1983, to work
initially three years in our U.S. operations as a store manager. After his
return to Belgium, he broadened his retail experience as a buyer, director of
purchasing, member of the Executive Committee and Director and Executive Vice-
President in charge of international activities. He was appointed President and
CEO in January 1999 and has served as a director since 1995.
In January 2000, Mr. Beckers was named Manager of the Year by the leading
Belgian business magazine Trends/Tendances. In 2009, he was named Belgium's BEL
20 CEO of the year by the Belgian newspapers Le Soir and De Standaard.
Mr Beckers has represented the company and the retail sector at the highest
level of global organizations, contributing significantly to establishing
stronger partnerships between the retail sector, suppliers and other
stakeholders. He serves on the Board and was until 2010 the chairman of The
Consumer Goods Forum, the global association of leading consumer goods retailers
and manufacturers. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Food Marketing
Institute and is Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee of FEB/VBO, the
Belgian Employers Federation. He is a member of Guberna and was a member, until
2010, of the Belgian Commission on Corporate Governance.
He has been President of the BOIC (Belgian Olympic Interfederal Committee)
since December 2004. He also was elected to the International Olympic Committee
in July 2012.
In 2012 Mr. Beckers was awarded the title of baron by King Albert II of Belgium.
» Delhaize Group
Delhaize Group is a Belgian international food retailer present in ten countries
on three continents. At the end of the first quarter of 2013, Delhaize Group's
sales network consisted of 3,411 stores. In 2012, Delhaize Group posted ?22.7
billion ($29.0 billion) in revenues and ?104 million ($134 million) in net
profit (Group share). At the end of 2012, Delhaize Group employed approximately
158 000 people. Delhaize Group's stock is listed on NYSE Euronext Brussels
(DELB) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEG).
This press release is available in English, French and Dutch. You can also find
it on the website http://www.delhaizegroup.com. Questions can be sent to
investor(at)delhaizegroup.com.
» Contacts
Investor Relations: + 32 2 412 2151
Media Relations: + 32 2 412 8669
cautionary note regarding forward looking statements
Statements that are included or incorporated by reference in this press release
and other written and oral statements made from time to time by Delhaize Group
and its representatives, other than statements of historical fact, which address
activities, events and developments that Delhaize Group expects or anticipates
will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, expected costs
savings the closing, conversion and opening of stores, the expected effect of
the portfolio optimization, anticipated revenue and net profit growth, strategic
options, future strategies and the anticipated benefits of these strategies and
operating profit guidance, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of the U.S. federal securities laws that are subject to risks and uncertainties.
These forward-looking statements generally can be identified as statements that
include phrases such as "guidance," "outlook," "projected," "believe," "target,"
"predict," "estimate," "forecast," "strategy," "may," "goal," "expect,"
"anticipate," "intend," "plan," "foresee," "likely," "will," "should" or other
similar words or phrases. Although such statements are based on current
information, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those
projected depending upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to,
changes in the general economy or the markets of Delhaize Group, in strategy, in
consumer spending, in inflation or currency exchange rates or in legislation or
regulation; competitive factors; adverse determination with respect to claims;
inability to timely develop, remodel, integrate, open, convert or close stores;
and supply or quality control problems with vendors. Additional risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
stated or implied by such forward-looking statements are described in Delhaize
Group's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings made by
Delhaize Group with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which risk
factors are incorporated herein by reference. Delhaize Group disclaims any
obligation to update developments of these risk factors or to announce publicly
any revision to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this release,
including operating profit guidance, or to make corrections to reflect future
events or developments.
This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of
Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Delhaize Group via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1700197]
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 08.05.2013 - 07:02 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 257371
Anzahl Zeichen: 9388
contact information:
Town:
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Kategorie:
Business News
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