Ahold Names Jan Ernst de Groot Chief Legal Officer

Ahold has appointed Jan Ernst de Groot chief legal officer and a member of the international retail conglomerate's executive committee, effective Feb. 1. Based at the company's headquarters in Zandaam, the Netherlands, de Groot will report to CEO Dick Boer.

In his new role, de Groot will handle Ahold's legal affairs, governance and compliance, in addition to overseeing responsible retailing and product integrity.

"He brings highly relevant global commercial experience as a general counsel," said Boer. "In addition, Jan Ernst has strong business and sustainability acumen, and is an experienced boardroom advisor. He will provide key insights as we continue to execute our Reshaping Retail strategy."

A Dutch national, de Groot joins Ahold from TNT Express, a Netherlands-based international courier delivery services company, where he was general counsel and managing director of external affairs and corporate responsibility. Before TNT, he worked at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in a variery of business and legal roles, including the development and implementation of the company’s sustainability strategy.

In related Ahold news, as previously revealed by the company last October, de Groot's predecessor, Chief Corporate Governance Counsel Lodewijk Hijmans van den Bergh, will step down as a member of the board of management on March 1.