BRUSSELS, Belgium, Oct. 7, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Delhaize Group (Euronext, Brussels: DELB, NYSE: DEG), the Belgian international food retailer, announced today that Stéfan Descheemaeker has decided to resign from his role as CEO of Delhaize Europe effective October 31, 2013. Referring to Mr. Descheemaeker's departure, Delhaize Group CEO Pierre-Olivier Beckers said: "I want to thank Stéfan for his significant contributions to the success of Delhaize Europe and Delhaize Group. In both his former capacity as CFO and then as CEO of Delhaize Europe, Stéfan has been an energetic leader who raised the organization's focus on cash-flow generation and brought the company to a higher level of performance while steadfastly promoting the company values. I want to wish him well in his future endeavors." As a result of Mr. Descheemaeker's resignation and departure, Delhaize Group is announcing the following organizational changes, all effective November 1, 2013: * Kostas Macheras, Delhaize Group EVP, current member of the Group Executive Committee and CEO of Delhaize Group Southeast Europe (SEE) and Asia, will report directly to the Group CEO. * Dirk Van den Berghe, CEO of Delhaize Belgium will report directly to the Group CEO. Frans Muller, the incoming Group CEO said: "I look forward to working directly with both Kostas and Dirk to continue building on the positive momentum of our European businesses to generate further progress. Equally I look forward to partnering with our Group CFO, Pierre Bouchut, so that we can continue improving the focus and performance of the overall Group. This will be amongst my key priorities in addition to working directly with the Delhaize America team while I evaluate and search for the best candidate to fill the Delhaize America CEO role." » Delhaize Group Delhaize Group is a Belgian international food retailer present in ten countries on three continents. At the end of the second quarter of 2013, Delhaize Group's sales network consisted of 3,455 stores. In 2012, Delhaize Group posted €21.0 billion ($27.0 billion) in revenues and €104 million ($134 million) in net profit (Group share). At the end of 2012, Delhaize Group employed approximately 158 000 people. Delhaize Group's stock is listed on NYSE Euronext Brussels (DELB) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEG). This press release is available in English, French and Dutch. You can also find it on the website http://www.delhaizegroup.com . Questions can be sent to investor@delhaizegroup.com. » Contacts Investor Relations: + 32 2 412 2151 Media Relations: + 32 2 412 8669 Press release in Pdf: http://hugin.info/133961/R/1733885/580637.pdf [HUG#1733885]
