Heineken’s latest move to impact hundreds of jobs

The decision, which is part of the Dutch beer giant’s new EverGreen 2030 strategy, will be starting in 2026 and will be in addition to 200 roles of the digital and technology department already being in transformation since October 2024.

The changes will, according to Heineken, assist in “reducing complexity and speeding up decision-making” as well as help the beer business to “operate with greater impact, empower its teams, and position itself to capture growth opportunities more decisively”.

The reshaping of its global head office is part of a series of initiatives designed to create “a more agile, simplified, and connected organisation, ready to focus on opportunities for growth and innovation”.

The business has also highlighted is “scaling the rollout of its digital backbone (DBB), a multi-year programme transforming how Heineken operates across more than 70 markets. By integrating over 40 digital platforms, DBB will simplify processes, unlock the power of data, and enable faster innovation”.

According to the brewer, “this will strengthen Heineken’s ability to respond quickly and efficiently to consumer trends and market shifts”.

Heineken chairman of the executive board and CEO Dolf van den Brink said: “The world around us is changing fast. Geopolitical and economic pressures are real, but so are the opportunities created by technology and evolving consumer trends. To stay ahead, we must accelerate our digital transformation and sharpen our focus on winning in the market.”

Van den Brink added: “We recognise the impact these changes can have on our people and are committed to supporting them with care and respect throughout this transition. With a stronger, simplified, more agile organisation, we are well positioned to unlock new growth opportunities and innovation.”

db has reached out to Heineken for further comment, but so far the company has remained silent on the exact number of redundancies it anticipates making.