Dolf van den Brink

Dolf van den Brink
Dolf van den Brink
Born	Template:Birth year and age
Birthplace	Bussum, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Occupation	Business executive
Title	CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board, Heineken N.V. (2020–2026)
Known for	CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Heineken N.V.

Dolf van den Brink (born 1973) is a Dutch business executive who served as the chief executive officer and chairman of the executive board of Heineken N.V., one of the world's largest brewing companies. Born in Bussum, Netherlands, van den Brink spent the majority of his career within the Heineken organization, rising through a series of international leadership positions across multiple continents before being appointed to the company's top role in 2020. He succeeded Jean-François van Boxmeer, who had led Heineken for more than a decade. Van den Brink's tenure as CEO was marked by significant global challenges, including the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting consumer preferences, and intensifying competition in the global beer market. In January 2026, van den Brink announced his resignation from Heineken, effective May 31, 2026, after nearly six years leading the brewer, a departure that came amid slowing sales volumes and a broader corporate reorganization effort.

Early Life

Dolf van den Brink was born in 1973 in Bussum, a town in the Gooi region of the North Holland province in the Netherlands. According to Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad, a comic strip created as early as 2003 had humorously predicted that van den Brink would one day become the head of Heineken, a testament to the trajectory that colleagues and associates had long observed in his career ambitions and capabilities within the company.

Details about van den Brink's family background and childhood in Bussum remain largely private. The Gooi region, historically known as an affluent area near Amsterdam, provided the setting for his upbringing before he pursued higher education and eventually embarked on a career in the international brewing industry.

Career

Early Career at Heineken

Van den Brink joined Heineken N.V. early in his professional life and built his career almost entirely within the organization. Over the course of nearly two decades before his appointment as CEO, he held a variety of leadership roles across different markets and geographies, gaining extensive experience in the company's global operations. His career trajectory took him through multiple continents, with significant postings that shaped his understanding of diverse beer markets and consumer behaviors.

Leadership in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

One of van den Brink's most notable assignments before becoming CEO was his role leading Heineken's operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This posting was considered one of the most challenging in Heineken's global portfolio, given the country's complex political environment, infrastructure limitations, and security concerns. Van den Brink's work in the DRC demonstrated his ability to operate in difficult and volatile markets, an experience that would later inform his approach to global leadership. A 2013 profile in Fortune magazine highlighted his determination and resilience during this period, noting that he "stands fast with Heineken" even in the most demanding circumstances.

A 2012 article in NRC Handelsblad explored van den Brink's philosophy on operating in emerging markets, quoting his view that "met simpelweg bier verschepen red je 't niet" ("you won't make it by simply shipping beer"), emphasizing the need for deep local engagement and market understanding rather than merely exporting products.

Appointment as CEO

In February 2020, Heineken announced that van den Brink would succeed Jean-François van Boxmeer as CEO and chairman of the executive board. Van Boxmeer had served in the role since 2005, leading the company through a period of significant international expansion. The appointment of van den Brink was seen as a continuation of Heineken's tradition of promoting from within, selecting a leader who had extensive operational experience across the company's global footprint.

The Dutch financial newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad profiled van den Brink at the time of his appointment, noting that for him "een dag 48 uur lijkt te tellen" ("a day seems to count 48 hours"), a reference to his intense work ethic and the energy he brought to his roles within the organization.

The Financial Times also covered his appointment, examining his background and the challenges he would face as the new leader of the world's second-largest brewer by volume.

Tenure as CEO (2020–2026)

Van den Brink assumed the CEO position at a turbulent time for the global brewing industry. The COVID-19 pandemic, which began to affect global markets in early 2020, severely disrupted the hospitality and on-premise consumption channels that were critical to Heineken's business model. Bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues — key distribution points for Heineken's premium beer brands — faced prolonged closures and restrictions in many of the company's major markets.

During his tenure, van den Brink oversaw Heineken's response to the pandemic and subsequent recovery efforts, as well as the company's strategic positioning in an increasingly competitive global beer landscape. He led the company as it navigated inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions, and evolving consumer trends, including a growing interest in non-alcoholic beverages and low-alcohol alternatives.

A profile in Forbes India examined van den Brink's leadership philosophy, noting that the Heineken CEO "refuses to be guided by mere profit," suggesting an approach that sought to balance financial performance with broader stakeholder considerations and long-term brand building.

In a 2024 interview with De Telegraaf, van den Brink, then 51, expressed his desire to counter what he described as distrust toward the business community, warning that "het gevaar is dat je een cynische CEO wordt" ("the danger is that you become a cynical CEO"). He articulated a vision for corporate leadership that engaged constructively with public discourse and societal expectations, rather than retreating into defensive postures.

However, the latter part of van den Brink's tenure was characterized by growing challenges. Heineken faced declining sales volumes in several key markets, and the company's financial performance came under increasing scrutiny from investors. The global beer market experienced headwinds from changing consumer preferences, including shifts toward spirits, wine, and non-alcoholic options, as well as economic slowdowns in some emerging markets that had been important growth drivers for Heineken.

Reorganization and Departure

By early 2026, Heineken was in the process of implementing a significant corporate reorganization plan aimed at streamlining operations and reducing costs in response to the challenging market environment.

On January 12, 2026, Heineken announced that van den Brink would step down as CEO and chairman of the executive board, effective May 31, 2026, after nearly six years in the role. The announcement was described as unexpected by multiple news outlets.

Reuters reported that the resignation came in the context of slow sales and dissatisfaction among investors with the company's performance under van den Brink's leadership. The Wall Street Journal noted that van den Brink's departure left the company searching for a successor to lead one of the world's largest brewing operations during a period of significant industry transition.

Business Chief magazine analyzed the reasons behind the departure, pointing to lower sales volumes and decreasing revenue as key factors that contributed to the decision.

Food Dive reported that van den Brink was leaving as the company implemented its reorganization plan, suggesting that the leadership change was connected to the broader strategic realignment of the business.

Industry publication Brewbound confirmed that a search for van den Brink's replacement was underway, with Heineken's supervisory board leading the process.

Just Drinks reported on the departure, noting that van den Brink had served almost six years as the leader of the brewer.

Mexico Business News highlighted that van den Brink would step down on May 31, 2026, ending his six-year tenure, and that the board had begun its search for a successor. The outlet noted the significance of the leadership transition given Heineken's substantial operations in Mexico, one of the company's largest markets globally.

Nasdaq also reported on the announcement, noting the formal corporate disclosure that van den Brink would be departing from his dual role as CEO and chairman of the executive board.

Personal Life

Van den Brink has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his career. He is known to have lived and worked in multiple countries during his time at Heineken, reflecting the international nature of his career within the company. In his interview with De Telegraaf in 2024, he offered some personal reflections on the pressures and responsibilities of corporate leadership, warning against the dangers of becoming cynical in the face of public scrutiny and societal distrust of business leaders.

Legacy

Van den Brink's nearly six-year tenure as CEO of Heineken N.V. encompassed one of the most disruptive periods in the modern history of the global brewing industry. Taking the helm just as the COVID-19 pandemic began to reshape consumer behavior and devastate the on-premise hospitality sector, he led the company through an unprecedented crisis before facing subsequent challenges related to shifting consumer preferences and investor expectations.

His career trajectory — from early roles within Heineken through challenging postings in markets such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and ultimately to the top position at one of the world's largest brewers — reflected the company's emphasis on developing leaders through deep operational experience across diverse geographies. His stated philosophy of prioritizing long-term brand building and stakeholder engagement over short-term profit maximization, as documented in profiles by Forbes India and De Telegraaf, represented an approach to corporate leadership that sought to balance commercial imperatives with broader societal responsibilities.

The circumstances of his departure — amid declining sales volumes, investor dissatisfaction, and a corporate reorganization — underscored the challenges facing major brewing companies in an era of evolving consumer tastes and increasing competition from alternative beverage categories. The search for his successor, initiated by Heineken's supervisory board in January 2026, marked a significant leadership transition for one of the Netherlands' most prominent multinational corporations.