Ahold Delhaize taps auto exec as new CTO
A global grocery giant is putting a veteran executive with experience in the automotive and footwear industries in charge of its technology organization.
Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize, parent of U.S. grocery conglomerate Ahold Delhaize USA among other global operations, has appointed Jan Brecht as CTO and member of the executive committee, effective Sept. 26, 2025.
Brecht will succeed Ben Wishart, who has decided to step down as a member of the executive committee and leave the company after twelve years in the CTO role at Ahold Delhaize. In a post on his LinkedIn profile, Brecht said he will take some downtime in October 2025 before “expanding (his) journey” at U.K. payment and financial services provider PayPoint plc, where he is currently chair of the remuneration and tech & cyber committees.
Brecht most recently served as chief digital information officer at Nissan Motor. Prior to that, he was CIO Mercedes-Benz Group, where he led the company’s IT strategy. Earlier in his career, Brecht was CIO and head of global supply chain at Adidas Group.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jan, whose international experience and visionary leadership, coupled with deep tech expertise and passion for consumers and data, will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our technology landscape to better serve our customers and brands," said Frans Muller, CEO of Ahold Delhaize.
As CTO, Brecht will lead Ahold Delhaize’s technology function, overseeing enterprise tech strategy, digital innovation, cybersecurity, and enabling its local brands to leverage the global company’s scale to accelerate the development of technology.
[READ MORE: Ahold Delhaize USA names new supply chain, commercial & digital chiefs]
"I’m honored to join Ahold Delhaize at such a pivotal time, with the Growing Together strategy having made a solid start since its launch last year," said Brecht. "The company’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, modernization, and customer experience aligns perfectly with my own experience and values. I look forward to working with talented teams across the company to build the next generation of digital and AI/data capabilities that will power the future of retail."
Brecht will join the company as incoming CTO on Sept. 1, 2025 and will work together with Wishart over the course of September to ensure a smooth handover.
Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize operates more than 2,000 stores in 23 U.S. states across its banners.
