Former Heineken UK MD Stefan Orlowski has been promoted to president of Heineken Europe as part of a major shake-up, which will see a number of high-level departures and the reorganisation of its regions.

Orlowski left the UK role in 2013 to head the company’s American operation. But it was announced this week that Heineken was regrouping its business into four geographic regions. As part of this, its Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe will be united to form a single Europe region, focused primarily on the EU markets and led by Orlowski.

The Africa Middle East region will be combined with Russia and Belarus to form Africa Middle East and Eastern Europe, led by Roland Pirmez - currently president of Asia Pacific. There are no changes to the Americas and Asia Pacific regions.

Heineken is also combining its chief marketing officer and chief sales officer roles at a global level into chief commercial officer. Jan Derck van Karnebeek, president of Central and Eastern Europe and global chief sales officer, will assume this position.

Alexis Nasard, currently regional president, Western Europe and global chief marketing officer, is to leave on 30 June. Siep Hiemstra, currently president Africa Middle East, will retire in August. Chief strategy officer Chris Barrow leaves in July.

“The changes will make us more agile,” said chairman and CEO Jean-François van Boxmeer. “Our management structure will be flatter, and our operating companies more empowered.”

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