The Supervisory Board of Heineken N.V. today announced the nomination of Rafael (Rafa) Oliveira as the company’s new Chair of the Executive Board and Chief Executive Officer. The Supervisory Board will nominate Rafa to be appointed for a period of four years, effective 1 October 2026, at an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on 5 August 2026.
Rafa will join HEINEKEN from JDE Peet’s N.V., the world’s largest pure-play coffee and tea company, where he has served as CEO since 2024. Following Keurig Dr Pepper’s acquisition of JDE Peet’s, he has been appointed to lead Keurig Dr Pepper’s planned Global Coffee Co. (annual revenue ~US $16 billion), a new publicly traded business combining its coffee operations with JDE Peet’s, underscoring his proven ability to lead complex global enterprises. A highly accomplished international consumer goods leader, he brings more than two decades of experience in transformational leadership across both developed and emerging markets. At JDE Peet’s (formerly listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange), Rafa sharpened the company’s strategy, and restored focus and profitable growth delivering strong results and significant shareholder value creation. Prior to JDE Peet’s, Rafa spent a decade at The Kraft Heinz Company, rising to President International Markets and overseeing a US $7+ billion portfolio across Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America. In these roles he built a consistent track record of driving compelling and focused strategies, strong operational execution and improving market and financial performance, while reinvigorating and building high-performing teams.
“We are delighted to welcome Rafa to HEINEKEN. He is a dynamic, visionary leader with an exceptional track record of leading global consumer businesses and delivering transformational growth. Throughout his career, Rafa has consistently transformed complex challenges into clear organisational priorities, aligning teams around what matters most, and driving disciplined execution of strategy. He combines strategic clarity with operational rigour and strong people leadership to deliver superior results. The Supervisory Board is confident that his energy and strategic acumen will accelerate the execution of the company’s EverGreen 2030 strategic agenda and create sustainable value for all our stakeholders. With Rafa at the helm, we look forward to building on HEINEKEN’s strong foundations and continuing our journey of long-term, balanced growth.
Peter Wennink, Chair of the HEINEKEN Supervisory Board
“My family and I are pleased with the rigorous global selection process that led to the nomination of Rafa as CEO. We believe Rafa’s proven ability to translate strategy into disciplined execution, his strong people leadership, and his clear strategic vision are the qualities needed to become an excellent HEINEKEN CEO.
Mrs. Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken “I am honoured and excited to join HEINEKEN, one of the world’s most iconic companies and brand portfolios. As a long-time admirer of HEINEKEN’s heritage and global impact, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this great company into its next chapter. HEINEKEN’s EverGreen 2030 strategy provides a powerful platform for the future, and I look forward to building on that momentum while bringing my own passion for performance, innovation and consumer focus. What excites me most is the opportunity to work alongside HEINEKEN’s talented people around the world, whose dedication and capabilities are the foundation of HEINEKEN’s success, and I look forward to building on that legacy together. I am confident we will accelerate growth, drive productivity and future-fit HEINEKEN, winning the hearts of consumers worldwide. I cannot wait to get started on 1 October 2026, and I will be fully committed to ensuring a seamless transition.
Rafa’s nomination as CEO combines the benefit of his extensive industry experience and proven leadership track record with the strength and continuity of HEINEKEN’s established Executive Team, positioning the company well for its next phase of growth. As an external leader with deep global FMCG and capital markets experience, he brings a fresh perspective that is expected to invigorate HEINEKEN and inspire and lead the current Executive Team. His leadership will sharpen execution and reinforce a culture of high performance, while keeping a clear focus on long-term brand health, sustainable growth and HEINEKEN’s distinctive culture. After a rigorous global search, the Supervisory Board unanimously chose Rafa for his unique mix of strategic vision, operational expertise, and financial acumen, qualities that make him an exceptionally balanced and well-rounded CEO to guide HEINEKEN through the opportunities and challenges of the evolving beverage industry.
Subject to shareholder appointment, Rafa will join HEINEKEN on 1 October 2026. Until then, HEINEKEN’s Executive Team will continue to steer the business and ensure continuity in execution of the company’s priorities. Further details regarding Rafa’s onboarding and a planned introduction to investors and media will be provided as arrangements are finalised.
