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Heineken N.V. (AMS:HEIA) Amsterdam, 2 September 2008 - Heineken N.V. today announced that Massimo von Wunster, Regional President, Heineken Americas, has decided to leave Heineken and return to his home country Italy.
Effective October 1, 2008 Massimo von Wunster will be succeeded by John Nicolson, formerly Scottish & Newcastle plc Managing Director Eastern Europe, Asia & USA. In his new role, John Nicolson will be based in New York City and will sit on Heineken's Executive Committee reporting to Jean-François van Boxmeer, Chief Executive Officer.
Commenting on the announcement, Jean-François van Boxmeer, said, "I would like to thank Massimo for his valuable and considerable contribution to the growth of our brands and our business, first in Italy and, over the last three years, in the Americas. In particular, Massimo has developed and solidified the relationships with our partners FEMSA and CCU, and has grown the Heineken brand consistently across the region."
"The transparent way that Massimo has handled the change has allowed us to make a smooth transition and handover to John. I wish Massimo all the best for his future career."
"I am delighted that we have someone of John's stature, capability and experience to succeed Massimo as Regional President, Americas. In particular, John's commercial understanding and executional capabilities are well known and respected. The combination of this with his relationship and business management skills make him a valuable addition to both the Americas business and our Executive Committee team."
Investor and analyst enquiries Jan van de Merbel Tel: +31 (0)20 5239 590 investors@heineken.com
Editorial information: Heineken N.V. is the world's most international brewer. The brand that bears the founder's family name - Heineken - is enjoyed in almost every country on the planet and is the world's most valuable international premium beer brand. In 2007, the Company operated 119 breweries in more than 65 countries and sold 139 million hectolitres of beer, making it the largest brewer in Europe and the world's fourth largest by volume. Heineken is committed to the responsible marketing and consumption of more than 170 local and international brands. Through the strategic management of this portfolio, with the emphasis on the Heineken brand and a relentless focus on cost control, the company aims to deliver excellent, sustainable financial performance. In 2007, revenue totalled EUR11.2 billion and Net Profit before exceptional items and amortisation of brands was EUR1.1 billion. In 2007, the average number of people employed was 54,000. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares are listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA:NA and HEIO:NA and on the Reuter Equities 2000 Service under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS. Additional information is available on Heineken's home page: http://www.heinekeninternational.com.
