Ahold Delhaize Names New Chief Sustainability Officer

Ahold Delhaize has named Jan Ernst de Groot as its chief sustainability officer. In this newly created role, he will oversee the company’s strategy and goals relative to all aspects of environmental sustainability, healthy eating, social impact, ethics, human rights and governance.

According to the company, Ahold Delhaize's sustainability strategy is based on the belief that what's healthy and sustainable should be available and accessible to all. “Centered around the idea that the world's health crisis and climate crisis are intrinsically linked, our approach ensures the decisions we make are grounded in doing the right thing for people and the planet,” company officials said in a statement. 

“At Ahold Delhaize, we want to lead the transition to a sustainable food system,” said Ernst de Groot. “I look forward to working with Daniella Vega, our SVP Health & Sustainability, and other senior leaders across our organization to further define the right, ambitious and future-oriented strategy and ensure execution and delivery of our targets, for the betterment of society as a whole.”  

Ernst de Groot is well known in the Dutch and international sustainability community, with a track record of leading transformative sustainability programs at companies and supervisory roles at NGOs and civil society organizations. He will retain his other, separate accountabilities as Ahold Delhaize’s Chief Legal Officer, an Executive Committee role he has held since 2016. 

Ahold Delhaize is the parent company of several U.S.-based grocery stores including Stop & Shop, Food Lion, Giant and Hannaford