Moving forward
Thank you for your continued support.
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We understand that the company will remain under intense scrutiny for some time to come, and justifiably so. Ahold
continues to await the results of governmental and regulatory investigations and is cooperating with external investigators.
We have a long way to go before the company’s reputation is restored and trust in our controls and governance rebuilt.
However, with the completion of the internal investigations and the restatement of results, we can move forward with this
rebuilding process. The extreme care that has been taken to review this company in recent months helps us to face the
future with confidence. We are committed to instilling sound corporate governance at Ahold are progressing in strengthening
controls.
The Supervisory Board now believes that a predominantly new team should assist Ahold in shaping its future. For that reason,
we announced on September 17, 2003, that the Supervisory Board will change its composition in the months ahead. On the
same day, Henny de Ruiter announced that he would resign as Chairman of the Supervisory Board at the close of the General
Meeting of Shareholders to approve the 2002 financial statements. It was also announced that Mr. De Ruiter would be
succeeded as Chairman by Karel Vuursteen, who was appointed as Supervisory Board member on May 7, 2002.
We fully support the clear and solid vision that the Corporate Executive Board has presented for Ahold’s future. As we
move forward with new leadership in the Executive and Supervisory Boards, a commitment to strengthen internal controls
and a renewed strategy, we are confident that we will emerge a company in which you can once more place your trust.
Supervisory Board
Zaandam, October 14, 2003
Further changes to the Supervisory Board will be made at the 2004 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, likely to be
held in May 2004. A nomination committee has been established to consider retirements and new members to the Ahold
Supervisory Board.
