Heineken has appointed Rafael Oliveira, formerly of the coffee giant JDE Peet’s, to take over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) following the exit of his predecessor in January 2026.
Heineken announced the appointment via a statement on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
“With Rafa at the helm, we look forward to building on Heineken’s strong foundations and continuing our journey of long-term, balanced growth,” supervisory board chairman Peter Wennink said.
Oliveira’s nomination, subject to shareholder approval, comes as the Dutch brewer is facing lower beer sales after six years under CEO Dolf van den Brink, who surprised the company by stepping down after a “mixed performance”.
Heineken to sack 6,000 workers
The company said in April that beer sales slipped nearly one per cent in the first quarter, citing an “increasingly complex” economic climate and higher energy prices.
It also announced in February plans to cut up to 6,000 jobs.
“I am confident we will accelerate growth, drive productivity and future-fit Heineken, winning the hearts of consumers worldwide,” Oliveira said in the statement.
