You’ve probably seen the headlines by now. Dolf van den Brink, the man who has spent the last six years steering the green Heineken ship through some of the choppiest waters in brewing history, is calling it quits. He’s stepping down on May 31, 2026.
It feels like the end of an era. Honestly, it sort of is.
When he took over back in June 2020, the world was literally upside down. Bars were shuttered. Kegs were gathering dust. He didn't just walk into a corner office; he walked into a global crisis. Now, as he prepares to transition into an advisory role for eight months, people are asking: did he actually win, or is he just tired of the fight?
The "EverGreen" Legacy and the Strategy That Changed Everything
Basically, you can’t talk about Dolf van den Brink without talking about EverGreen. That was his "baby." It wasn't just a catchy name for a sustainability report; it was a total overhaul of how a century-old beer giant functions.
Heineken was traditionally known for being a bit slow, maybe even a little stuffy. Van den Brink changed that vibe. He pushed for "EverGreen 2025" and then laid the tracks for "EverGreen 2030," focusing on digital transformation and a "challenger culture." He wanted the company to act more like a startup and less like a legacy behemoth.
Did it work? Well, it’s complicated.
Under his watch, Heineken 0.0 became a juggernaut. He leaned hard into the non-alcoholic trend before it was the cool thing to do in every suburban grocery store. But he also had to make the hard calls. We're talking about cutting 8,000 jobs in 2021 to keep the margins from collapsing under the weight of inflation and pandemic losses.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Exit
There's a lot of chatter that he’s leaving because of the recent dip in sales. It’s true—Heineken’s volume took a hit in 2025. Subdued consumer sentiment in the Americas and a massive proposed alcohol tax in Vietnam (a huge market for them) didn’t help. The stock price even tumbled about 4% right after the announcement of his departure.
But here’s the thing: most insiders saw this coming.
Six years is a standard "tour of duty" for a CEO at this level. He’s been with the company for 28 years. He started as a trainee in 1998, for heaven's sake. He’s done the "international man of mystery" thing, running operations in the Congo, the USA, Mexico, and Asia Pacific.
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He’s 52 years old. In the corporate world, that's actually quite young. By stepping down now, he leaves with his reputation mostly intact, having navigated a literal pandemic and launched a multi-decade strategy that his successor will now have to execute.
The Human Side: "Take Off the Damn Glasses"
There is this great story he tells about his early days in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was only 32, leading 750 people, and he was terrified. He started wearing fake glasses—literally spectacles he didn't need—and stiff suits just to look older and more "CEO-like."
His wife, Sylvia, finally told him: "Start by taking those damn glasses off. Just be Dolf."
That moment changed his leadership style. He became known for being "refreshingly authentic," a guy who preferred being called by his first name rather than a formal title. That's the Dolf van den Brink the employees actually know—not just the guy in the press releases.
The Real Challenges He Leaves Behind
If we’re being real, the next CEO isn't getting a cakewalk. Heineken is still lagging behind rivals like AB InBev and Carlsberg in total shareholder return.
- The Vietnam Headache: The suspension of brewery operations in Vietnam in 2024 was a gut punch.
- Retailer Wars: In 2025, several European supermarkets actually pulled Heineken from shelves because they refused to accept his price hikes.
- Gen Z Sobriety: Younger people just aren't drinking as much. Period.
Van den Brink pushed the digital agenda and the "beyond beer" portfolio, but the transition is far from finished. The board is currently hunting for a successor who can turn his "EverGreen" vision into actual, cold, hard cash for investors who have grown a bit impatient.
Why Dolf van den Brink Still Matters to the Industry
Even if you don't care about the price of a six-pack, his tenure is a masterclass in crisis management. He managed to keep a global supply chain running when the world stopped. He successfully integrated a $3.2 billion deal in Central America recently. He also stayed vocal about social issues, pushing for diversity and climate action when other CEOs were playing it safe.
The "EverGreen 2030" plan is his final gift (or burden, depending on who you ask) to the company. It focuses on 17 key markets and slashes investment in brands that aren't pulling their weight. It’s a leaner, meaner version of the Heineken we knew ten years ago.
Moving Forward: What to Watch For
As Dolf van den Brink prepares to hand over the keys in May 2026, the business world is watching two things. First, will the board hire from within? Heineken loves its "homegrown" talent, but some analysts think an outsider is needed to really shake up the culture and fix those lagging margins.
Second, watch the February 2026 earnings report. That’s going to be Dolf’s "final exam." If the numbers are better than expected, he walks away a hero. If they’re soft, his legacy might be remembered more for the "turbulent times" than the "EverGreen" growth.
If you're an investor or just a fan of the brand, the smart move is to look past the immediate leadership vacuum. Focus on how the company executes the "disciplined growth" phase Dolf laid out. The strategy is solid; the execution is the question mark. Keep an eye on the transition period starting June 1, 2026, as his advisory role will be crucial in preventing a "leadership gap" during a very fragile economic period.