Supervisory Board report
The Supervisory Board is an independent corporate
body responsible for supervising and advising the
Corporate Executive Board and overseeing the general
course of affairs and the strategy of the Company.
The Supervisory Board is guided in its duties by the
interests of the Company, taking into consideration
the overall good of the enterprise and the relevant
interests of all those involved in the Company.
Composition of the Supervisory Board, induction
Ahold's Supervisory Board determines the number of its
members. The composition of the Supervisory Board must
be such that the combined experience, expertise and
independence of its members best enables the Supervisory
Board to carry out its responsibilities. As Ahold is an
international retailer, the Supervisory Board Charter
provides that the composition of the Supervisory Board
should preferably reflect knowledge of European and
American market conditions, financial institutions and
corporate governance. If a Supervisory Board member is
concurrently a member of another company's Supervisory
Board, the Supervisory Board Charter states that the main
duties arising from and/or the number and nature of the
memberships on any other company's Supervisory Board
must not conflict or interfere with that person's duties as
a member of Ahold's Supervisory Board.
The following changes were made or announced to the
composition of Ahold's Supervisory Board in 2006.
The General Meeting of Shareholders appointed Judith
Sprieser on May 18, 2006. She is serving as member of
the Audit Committee and member of the Remuneration
Retirement and reappointment schedule
Committee. As announced Jan Hommen will not be
standing for re-election at the end of his term following the
annual General Meeting of Shareholders in 2007 due to a
restriction on the number of directorships under the Dutch
Corporate Governance Code of December 9, 2003 (the
"Dutch Corporate Governance Code"). The Supervisory
Board is grateful for the dedication and wisdom that Jan
Hommen has given to the Company in the years he served
on the Supervisory Board. His Chairmanship of the Audit
Committee in difficult times has been a major contribution
to the recovery of the Company and the strengthening
of its controls. The Supervisory Board has nominated
Tom de Swaan for appointment as one of its members.
Leadership education is an important part of good
governance. New members of the Supervisory Board
attend a full-day induction program at Ahold's offices in
Amsterdam where senior management briefs them on their
responsibilities as members of the Supervisory Board and
the financial, legal and reporting affairs of the Company
and its businesses. Throughout the year, all members of
the Supervisory Board visit several operating companies
and other parts of the business to gain greater familiarity
with key management, and to develop deeper knowledge
of local operations, opportunities and challenges.
Date of initial
Date of possible
Name
Date of birth
appointment
reappointment
Jan Hommen
René Dahan
Karen de Segundo
Derk Doijer
Myra Hart
Stephanie Shern
Judith Sprieser
April 29, 1943
August 26, 1941
December 12, 1946
October 9, 1949
August 5, 1940
January 7, 1948
August 3, 1953
May 13,
June 2,
June 2,
May 18,
May 18,
May 18,
May 18,
2003
2004
2004
2005
2005
2005
2006
not applicable
2008
2008
2009
2009
2009
2010
Ahold Annual Report 2006
15
