Frits van Eerd

Frits van Eerd
van Eerd in 2019
Born
Godefridus Franciscus Theodorus van Eerd

(1967-03-25) 25 March 1967 (age 57)
Veghel, North Brabant, Netherlands
Occupations
  • Businessman
  • racing driver
Years active1999–present
Championship titles
2021FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 Pro/Am

Godefridus Franciscus Theodorus "Frits" van Eerd (born 25 March 1967) is a Dutch entrepreneur and racing driver. He was the general manager of Jumbo Groep Holding BV from 2002 to September 2022. As a racing driver, he won the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship in the LMP2 Pro/Am category and co-founded Racing Team Nederland.[1][2]

Education and professional career

Van Eerd studied business administration in Utrecht and the United States. In 1992, he joined Jumbo, the family business founded by his father, Karel van Eerd. He started his career as a product manager of the bread department and later became supermarket manager. In 1996, he became general manager at Jumbo and in 2002 he was appointed general manager.[2]

As general manager, Van Eerd led the expansion of Jumbo, which was characterised by strategic acquisitions. Under his leadership, Super de Boer and C1000 were acquired, establishing Jumbo as one of the largest supermarket chains in the Netherlands. Van Eerd remained general manager until his resignation in 2022.[3]

Criminal investigation and resignation from Jumbo

In September 2022, Van Eerd was involved in a large-scale money laundering investigation. The FIOD raided his home and the Jumbo head office in Veghel,[3] The FIOD found 448 thousand euros in cash, hidden in a plastic bag in a refrigerator, mainly in five-hundred-euro banknotes.[4] Van Eerd was arrested and interrogated for five days.[4]

The trial against him began in September 2024.[5] He was suspected of accepting bribes, issuing false invoices and engaging in ‘habitual money laundering’; the frequent money laundering that it became a habit.[4]

In connection with the criminal case, Van Eerd stepped down as general manager of Jumbo in September 2022 - initially temporarily for as long as the criminal investigation would last, but in March 2023 his departure became permanent with the appointment of interim CEO Ton van Veen as permanent chairman of the board.[6][3]

Racing career

In addition to his business career, Van Eerd was active in motorsport. He started racing in Formula Renault in 1993 and became Benelux champion in 1996. He also participated in rallies, including the Dakar rally, and founded Racing Team Nederland in 2017, which participated in the European Le Mans Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship. In 2019, his team won the 6 Hours of Fuji.[7] In 2021, van Eerd won the FIA WEC championship in the LMP2 Pro/Am category.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Frits van Eerd - Jumbo-baas en autogek: 'Ik moet, ik zal, ik ga winnen'". De Ondernemer. 26 November 2017. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Frits van Eerd - Jumbo Supermarkten". Management Scope. 2023. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b Das, Dayeeta (13 March 2023). "Jumbo Names Ton van Veen As New Chief Executive Officer". ESM Magazine. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Persson, Michael (16 September 2024). "Verdediging bij begin strafzaak tegen ex-Jumbo-topman: 'Frits van Eerd is geen witwasmachine'". volkskrant.nl.
  5. ^ Yassin Boutayeb (16 September 2024). "OM vervolgt voormalig Jumbo-topman Van Eerd voor witwassen". de Volkskrant. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Frits van Eerd definitief weg als Jumbo-topman". NOS. 7 March 2023. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Racing Team Nederland".
  8. ^ "Season 2021 results". FIA World Endurance Championship. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.