Ahold Delhaize names new US chief

Ahold Delhaize has nominated Claire Peters as the next chief executive officer of its U.S. division, tapping a retail veteran with three decades of experience across grocery, e-commerce, and international markets.

The Supervisory Board selected Peters for the role, which includes a seat on the company’s Management Board. She will join Ahold Delhaize on September 8 as CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA, though her appointment to the broader board remains subject to shareholder approval at an upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting and regulatory clearances.

Peters most recently served as vice president for Worldwide Fresh at Amazon, overseeing operations in North America and abroad. Before that, she held executive positions at Woolworths Group in Australia and spent years at Tesco, including a stint as chief operating officer for the company’s Thailand business. Her career has spanned food retail, wholesale, and digital commerce across four continents.

Frans Muller, president and CEO of Ahold Delhaize, called Peters a leader with “strong operational leadership and deep experience in omnichannel grocery and business transformation.” He cited her track record of managing large-scale businesses, improving customer propositions, and driving execution—qualities he said position her well to guide the U.S. division forward.

In a statement, Peters said she was “honored” by the nomination and praised Ahold Delhaize’s “family of local brands” for their community ties and customer focus. She outlined priorities for her tenure, including expanding omnichannel growth, refining the customer experience, and strengthening the company’s private-label offerings. “I look forward to working with teams across the U.S. businesses to build on that strength,” she said.

Peters has also held non-executive board roles in food retail, adding governance experience to her resume. Her background includes a reputation for building high-performing teams and leveraging technology to drive market share gains.

The U.S. division of Ahold Delhaize operates under brands like Stop & Shop, Giant Food, and Food Lion. The company reported $91 billion in global sales last year, with the U.S. accounting for roughly two-thirds of revenue.

Her appointment arrives as traditional grocers face pressure from discount chains and digital competitors. Industry analysts note that omnichannel strategies—blending in-store and online shopping—have become critical for maintaining customer loyalty. Ahold Delhaize has invested in automation and supply chain upgrades in recent years, though some U.S. markets remain highly competitive.

Peters’ transition from Amazon’s fresh division to a legacy grocery operator reflects a broader trend of retailers poaching talent from tech giants. Walmart, for example, has recruited executives from Google and Microsoft to bolster its digital operations. The shift shows how e-commerce expertise is increasingly valued in traditional retail leadership.

Shareholders will vote on her Management Board appointment later this year. If approved, she will succeed the current U.S. CEO, whose departure timeline has not been disclosed.