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The chief executive and founder of Just Eat Takeaway is to step down just weeks after the company was acquired by Prosus, bringing to an end his 25-year career at the head of the food delivery company.
Jitse Groen announced he was stepping down from the Amsterdam-based food delivery group on Wednesday, to be replaced by Prosus’s head of European operations, Roberto Gandolfo.
The surprise move comes despite Groen having initially said he would remain at the company after it was acquired to help smooth the transition. The deal, which closed last month, saw Groen’s group bought by the investment arm of South African group Naspers for €4.1bn.
Groen, who founded Takeaway.com in 2000, expanded the business to become an industry leader before steering the company through a £6.2bn merger with fellow food delivery group, Just Eat, in 2020.
The combined entity became one of Europe’s leading food delivery groups, with operations in 16 countries; however, it struggled in the years following the pandemic, with its stock price plummeting.
The fall was exemplified by the failed acquisition of US-based food ordering platform Grubhub for $7.3bn in 2021, before the group was forced to sell it last November for just $650mn.
The company subsequently delisted from the London Stock Exchange in December, to focus on its Amsterdam listing, as part of a cost-cutting drive.
“I am immensely proud of what our team has built, and I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has been part of this remarkable journey,” Groen said in a statement.
Groen’s replacement, Gandolfo, was formerly at Brazil’s iFood, which is also owned by Prosus, and will assume his new role on January 1.
Meanwhile, Prosus’s chief executive, Fabricio Bloisi, will replace Gandolfo in his previous role as chair of the Just Eat Takeaway board.
“JET is a phenomenal business with a strong brand, valued partners and great people across the organisation,” Gandolfo said.
“I’m excited to join at this pivotal moment and to work closely with JET’s leaders to unlock the company’s next chapter of growth through innovation and best-in-class execution,” he added.