We are thrilled to announce that Claude Sarrailh has officially stepped into his new role as CEO for Europe & Indonesia this week. Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Claude to discuss his initial impressions, his extensive background, and his vision for Ahold Delhaize, as well as how he’s settling into life in the Netherlands.
With over 25 years of retail experience, Claude brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong record of international leadership. His passion for retail, customer innovation, and team development has driven his successful career. Personally, Claude’s global perspective is enriched by his upbringing across multiple countries and fluency in over four languages.
First Impressions of Ahold Delhaize
Claude shared that he is deeply impressed by Ahold Delhaize’s culture of collaboration and dedication to a common purpose: “Inspiring everyone to eat and live better for a healthier future and planet.” He also appreciates the company’s local brands, which stay engaged with their communities. For example, Delhaize Belgium’s SuperPlus program offers customers savings of up to 10% on healthy products, while the Central and Southeastern European (CSE) brands pool resources to improve efficiencies, such as optimizing truck and shelf loading processes, all while maintaining strong local brand identities.
What Draws Claude to the Food Retail Industry?
With over 25 years in food retail, Claude finds the industry to be exciting, particularly because it has such a tangible impact on the daily lives of people, both within and outside the organization. He also values the dynamic nature of the sector, where roles can evolve, allowing professionals to experience different areas like operations, marketing, sourcing, and technology.
Why Ahold Delhaize?
Claude was drawn to Ahold Delhaize by its strong vision and strategy, as well as its commitment to nurturing great local brands. Having lived in eight different countries, Claude understands the importance of adapting to local communities while maintaining a clear brand identity. He also admires Ahold Delhaize’s core values of teamwork, integrity, humor, care, and courage, which resonate with employees worldwide. Claude highlights the importance of staying connected to the company’s ultimate focus: serving its customers.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Looking ahead, Claude sees an exciting opportunity for Ahold Delhaize to lead the transformation of food systems to promote better health for customers and the planet. While this presents challenges, it is also a significant chance for the company to innovate and take the lead. In Europe, he believes the key opportunity lies in leveraging Ahold Delhaize’s scale to deliver better products and terms for its customers.
Leadership Lessons
Reflecting on his career, Claude emphasizes that resilience has been the most valuable lesson. He notes that setbacks are inevitable, but staying true to one’s values and goals helps navigate challenges and bounce back stronger. His advice for aspiring leaders? Build a strong foundation of values and behaviors to guide you through difficult times.
Claude Sarrailh brings fresh energy and perspective to Ahold Delhaize, and we are excited to see how his leadership will help drive the company forward
