World: Heineken appoints Rafael Oliveira as its new chair and CEO

Dutch beer maker Heineken has appointed Rafael Oliveira as its new chair and CEO, it said on June 23, becoming one of several alcoholic drinks makers to seek to galvanise sales through a change of leadership.

Oliveira has been the CEO of Dutch coffee and tea maker JDE Peet's since 2024. He will join Heineken, the world's No. 2 brewer, for four years from October 1, the company said in a statement.

"After a ⁠rigorous global search, the supervisory board unanimously chose Rafa for his unique mix of strategic vision, operational expertise, and financial acumen," Heineken said.

Heineken's previous CEO Dolf van den Brink, who led Heineken for six years, announced his resignation in January and the company has been without a CEO since the start of June. Across the industry, several major drinks companies have responded to a plunge in alcohol sales by reviewing senior management.

Keurig Dr Pepper, the current ⁠owner of JDE Peet's, in April appointed Oliveira to lead a new global coffee business, combining its own operations with those of JDE Peet's.

KDP is planning to break itself into two U.S. listed companies, one for beverages and one for ⁠coffee.

In a statement issued by KDP on June 23, Oliveira said it had been a difficult decision to leave Keurig.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this ⁠great company into its next chapter," he said in Heineken's statement, adding its 2030 strategy offered a powerful platform for the future.

"I am confident ⁠we will accelerate growth, drive productivity and future-fit HEINEKEN, winning the hearts of consumers worldwide," he said.

23 June, 2026