Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal, June 2025 – Francisco de Almeida has been appointed as the new Chief People Officer at Jerónimo Martins, a significant leadership move that reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to fostering a people-first culture across its expansive global operations. In his new role, Francisco will lead the Group’s people strategy, focusing on employee experience, leadership development, and cultural integration across six countries and over 6,000 stores.
Francisco brings over eleven years of experience within Jerónimo Martins, having held a series of impactful roles across its global businesses. Most recently, he served as Digital & Innovation Director and Executive Committee Member at Pingo Doce, where he led digital transformation initiatives that strengthened customer engagement and operational efficiency in Portugal’s leading supermarket chain.
Prior to that, he was E-Commerce Director and Executive Committee Member at Hebe – Health & Beauty in Poland. During his tenure, he successfully scaled Hebe’s e-commerce presence and digital capabilities, positioning the brand as a leading beauty and health retailer in Central Europe.
Earlier, Francisco served as Business Development Director at Biedronka, the group’s flagship retail brand in Poland. His strategic insights contributed to Biedronka’s continued leadership in the Polish market and its expansion into Slovakia. He began his journey with the Group as Head of Corporate Strategy, helping shape long-term business initiatives across all operating countries.
Before joining Jerónimo Martins, Francisco built a strong consulting background at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he worked for over six years across two stints. He held roles as Project Leader, Consultant, and Associate Consultant, primarily focusing on strategic transformation projects in the financial services, retail, and consumer industries. In between, he also founded Leap – Business Accelerator, where he supported SME innovation and entrepreneurship.
Francisco holds an MBA from INSEAD, where he co-led the Consulting Club and specialized in Entrepreneurship, Strategy, and Finance. His diverse experience across business transformation, innovation, and people strategy uniquely positions him to lead Jerónimo Martins’ HR agenda in the next phase of its growth.
About Jerónimo Martins
Jerónimo Martins, founded in 1792, is one of the world’s oldest and most respected retailers, headquartered in Portugal and operating across six countries. The Group specializes in food distribution and specialized retail, serving millions of consumers through well-known brands such as Biedronka (Poland and Slovakia), Hebe (Poland, Czechia, and Slovakia), Pingo Doce (Portugal), Recheio (Portugal), and Ara (Colombia). The company also operates a dynamic agribusiness division focused on dairy, beef, aquaculture, and fresh produce. With a long legacy and a forward-thinking approach, Jerónimo Martins remains committed to delivering quality food at competitive prices while building a sustainable and inclusive workforce.
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