Delhaize's subsidiary, Ahold, welcomes a fresh Chief Technology Officer to its management team.
Ahold Delhaize Welcomes New Chief Technology Officer, Jan Brecht
Jan Brecht, a seasoned technology leader with a background in digital transformation and enterprise technology, has been appointed as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Ahold Delhaize, effective September 26, 2025. Brecht succeeds Ben Wishart, who served as CTO for 12 years.
Ahold Delhaize, one of the world's largest food retail groups and the No. 11 retail group on Progressive Grocer's 2025 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America, operates over 2,000 stores in the U.S. and other countries. The company employs more than 390,000 associates in around 9,400 grocery and specialty stores, serving over 72 million customers weekly.
Brecht brings extensive experience in digital transformation and enterprise technology leadership to his new role. Before joining Ahold Delhaize, he was the Chief Digital Information Officer at Nissan Motor Corporation and served as Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Mercedes-Benz Group. He also held CIO and global supply chain leadership roles at Adidas, bringing broad experience from the automotive and footwear industries into the retail sector.
At Ahold Delhaize, Brecht will lead the entire technology function. His responsibilities include overseeing enterprise technology strategy, digital innovation, cybersecurity, and enabling the company's local grocery brands to scale customer-centric technology platforms leveraging Ahold Delhaize’s global scale. He has expressed commitment to building next-generation digital and AI/data capabilities to support the company’s "Growing Together" strategy focused on innovation, sustainability, modernization, and improved customer experience.
Frans Muller, the CEO of Ahold Delhaize, emphasized the critical role of technology in the company’s growth and efficiency, particularly through innovation and AI, underlining the strategic importance of Brecht’s appointment.
Meanwhile, Lynne Bruning-van Gessel has been appointed as the Brand President of Etos, one of Ahold Delhaize's family of local brands. Tim Bork has been appointed as the Chief Commercial Officer for Ahold Delhaize Europe & Indonesia. Jason Wilson has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Ahold Delhaize USA. Krajnovic and Nicks have been appointed as the Chief Supply Chain Officer and Chief Commercial & Digital Officer for Ahold Delhaize USA respectively.
Progressive Grocer also named Ahold Delhaize one of its Retailers of the Century and Ahold Delhaize USA among the 10 Most Sustainable Grocers of 2025. These customers are served both in stores and online in the United States, Europe, and Indonesia.
Jan Brecht earned a degree in electrical engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and has lived and worked in Europe, the United States, and Japan.
Reference(s): [1] Ahold Delhaize press release [3] Retail Dive article [5] TechCrunch article
Jan Brecht, in his new role as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Ahold Delhaize, will oversee digital innovation and cybersecurity, aiming to build next-generation digital and AI/data capabilities to support the company's growth strategy. This strategy includes focus on innovation, sustainability, modernization, and improved customer experience, signifying a crucial role of technology in business finance and operations.
Before joining Ahold Delhaize, Brecht held various CIO and global supply chain leadership roles at Adidas, Nissan Motor Corporation, and Mercedes-Benz Group, utilizing his extensive experience in technology, digital transformation, and enterprise leadership across multiple industries, including automotive and footwear, to contribute to the retail sector.
