Jef Colruyt explains his departure as Colruyt CEO: “From now on I will guide”

At a press conference on Wednesday morning, Jef Colruyt defined his departure from the Colruyt Group, so that it will receive a CEO for the primary time on 1 July who does not come from the family. “From now on I will guide,” he said.

On Tuesday it turned into announced that Jef Colruyt, who will turn 65 in October, will step down as CEO of the Colruyt Group at the give up of this month. That timing is incredible, after two turbulent years for the retailer. His successor can be Stefan Goethaert, the first actual director who does no longer come from the circle of relatives. Jef Colruyt did no longer explain his departure on Tuesday, however he did at a press convention on Wednesday.

“I’m happy we communicated it,” said Jef Colruyt there. He became pleased with the organisation he is leaving. “From 1 billion to 11 billion turnover, from five,000 to 33,000 human beings. That’s not bad. During the corona crisis, we additionally felt how strongly we are connected. That feeling was reinforced through the scenario in Ukraine.”

He did not forget about the decline in current years. “But the benefit of stopping in a dip is that the next crew can cross for the polka dot jersey.” From now on he'll help, Colruyt stated. “Boys, ladies, give it a rag.”

His successor, Stefan Goethaert, requested for applause for his predecessor. “I can't and will no longer update Jef. But the company tradition remains intact. I even have already prepared nicely with Stefaan in current months (Vandamme, monetary director) a Yes (Willemyns, COO) and the complete board and management group.”

The new CEO sees four pillars. “Budget, healthy, sustainable and comfort.” Colruyt plans to boost up its deployment to Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp and Liège with Okay Compact and Direct. In addition, the plan is to boom the turnover in keeping with rectangular meter by means of introducing new product classes, which includes pharmaceutical, alcohol-loose, veggie and halal.

In September there might be a campaign for fifty years of the bottom prices, it still sounded.