Dick Boer is stepping down as chief executive of the Ahold Delhaize supermarket group on July 2018 after 20 years with the company. Frans Muller, deputy chief executive and chief integration officer, will take over from Boer on that date.

Boer has worked for Ahold for the past 20 years, joining in 1998 as CEO of Ahold Czech Republic. He was appointed chief executive of the Dutch business in 2003 and joined the management board in 2017.  He led the merger with Delhaize in 2016.

‘With this merger now being substantially completed, Ahold Delhaize is now ready to move into its next phase,’ supervisory board chairman Mats Jansson said in a statement.

‘Together with Dick, Frans was instrumental in bringing together Ahold and Delhaize Group…Frans brings a wealth of retail experience and a deep knowledge of our company, brands and US and European markets, making him the natural choice as next CEO.’

Boer will work closely with Muller to ensure a smooth transition on July 1, 2018 and he will remain available as advisor to the company until mid 2019, Ahold Delhaize said.