Ronald den Elzen is set to leave Heineken after just over 30 years, the last six of which have been as the brewer’s chief digital & technology officer.
The move, confirmed by the group today (26 February), has come about after den Elzen “signalled his intent last year to pursue new career and learning opportunities”. The executive, who joined Heineken in 1995 and assumed his current position in March 2020, will depart at the end of May.
Replacing him will be Romain Apert (below), who has worked for Mars since the turn of the Century.
Starting in the UK in July 2000, Apert spent two years as a business solutions specialist covering data & insights for Mars. He then moved to France for 12 years with the group before heading to the US in 2015 to spend seven years as the global chief information officer for Mars Wrigley. Since the start of 2022, he has held the same position at Mars Petcare, based back in London.
“[Ronald’s] contributions to Heineken’s success in the past three decades through his deep knowledge of the company and portfolio, his passion and incredible people skills, will be greatly missed,” said CEO Dolf van den Brink, who is also set to leave the company at the end of May.
“Romain will be partnering across the executive team, advancing Heineken’s ‘EverGreen 2030’ strategy through the further deployment of the company’s ‘Digital Backbone’, and scaling value from data and AI.”
Earlier this month Heineken launched two flavoured lines in the US of Heineken 0.0 – Cold Pressed Lime and Nectarine Juniper – to cater to the “growing” demand for alcohol-free products.
