ZAANDAM, The Netherlands—Ahold Delhaize announces today that Lynne Bruning-van Gessel, currently Commercial Director at Etos, will be appointed Brand President of Dutch drugstore Etos. This follows the news that Pieter Saman, who currently serves as Brand President of Etos, has accepted a role in the United States as a Division Director at Food Lion, effective September 1. Bruning-van Gessel will start on July 1, reporting to Margaret Versteden-van Duijn, who will begin her new role at Albert Heijn on September 1.
Claude Sarrailh, CEO of Ahold Delhaize Europe & Indonesia, said: “I am excited to welcome Lynne as Brand President of Etos. As Commercial Director, she has shown strong strategic insight, market understanding and a clear focus on customer needs. With her sharp eye, knowledge of the market and strong leadership skills, I am confident that Etos will continue to grow under her leadership. We thank Pieter for his strong contribution to Etos. Under his leadership, the Etos brand was further strengthened and a new course set, focusing on innovation, competitive offers and increasing the relevance of Etos for a wider target audience. I wish him every success in his new role at Food Lion.”
Bruning-van Gessel joined Etos in 2022 after over 15 years at L’Oréal, where she held various senior roles, including General Manager of the Active Cosmetics Division. At Etos, she has led initiatives to introduce distinctive new assortments and foster stronger team collaboration and partnerships. She holds an MBA from the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam.
Upon the announcement, Bruning-van Gessel said: “I am thankful for the cooperation that Pieter and I have had over the past two years. Together with the team we set a growth course for Etos, with new brand positioning and own-brand product ranges. I look forward to building on the strong foundation we laid, and leading the team in driving both customer satisfaction and sustained growth.”
Pieter Saman joined Ahold Delhaize in 2020 as Brand President of Gall & Gall before taking the helm at Etos in 2023. His next chapter at Food Lion signals a continued commitment to Ahold Delhaize’s cross-continental leadership development.
