Marit van Egmond is a Dutch senior executive and former chief executive of Albert Heijn, where she led the business for more than six years, and became the first woman to serve as CEO in the company’s history.
She began her career in 1997 within the Ahold Delhaize group as a management trainee at Albert Heijn. After holding several roles in category management, she was appointed Director of Operations in 2006. In 2008, she moved to Gall&Gall as Commercial Director, and, three years later, assumed full responsibility for the liquor retail chain.
In 2014, Van Egmond returned to Albert Heijn and joined the executive board, initially overseeing assortment development as EVP Merchandising & Sourcing and later appointed as EVP Commerce. In 2019, she became CEO of Albert Heijn.
During her tenure, van Egmond strengthened Albert Heijn’s market leadership through a clear strategic growth agenda, centred on digitalisation, private label growth, sustainability, and affordability during a period of sustained inflation and supply chain disruption. She also established multiple strategic partnerships and successfully executed two major acquisitions, reinforcing the company’s commercial and operational capabilities. In addition, since 2021, she held overal responsibility for Etos and Gall & Gall, overseeing portfolio coordination across complementary retail formats.
Van Egmond brings an integral perspective on the foodsystem and the future of food. In 2021 she authored a book “samen op weg naar beter eten” reflecting her long-standing commitment to healthier, more sustainable food ecosystems. An area she continues to support through advisory roles, partnerships and public engagement.
Van Egmond studied Food Science & Technology at HAS University of Applied Sciences in ’s-Hertogenbosch and General Management at the University of Greenwich in London. She completed executive education programs at, among others, London Business School, Nyenrode Business Universiteit, and Harvard University.
