Tjeerd Jegen

Chief Executive Officer, Bm European Value Retail

Search every verified Tjeerd Jegen interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Tjeerd Jegen, CEO of HEMA, discussed the company’s shift toward a partnership-based business model, stating that HEMA no longer sees itself solely as a retail chain but as a brand that can be licensed to partners. He noted that the company had reduced its store count in the Netherlands from 560 to around 200 and added an online channel to remain relevant as customer behavior changed. Jegen described the model as allowing partners to invest in growth outside HEMA’s core markets, while the company continues to invest in its own stores in the Netherlands and Belgium. Jegen also emphasized HEMA’s purpose of making affordable products accessible to everyone, tracing this back to the company’s founders in the 1920s. He expressed a goal of moving from a linear to a circular business model, acknowledging that HEMA is not a leader in circularity. He spoke about deriving personal energy from making a positive difference for employees, customers, and society, mentioning that he founded the HEMA Foundation, which operates independently to support an inclusive society.