Lunch Garden is undergoing a leadership change as CEO Ann Biebuyck steps down. The company has announced that Stephan Brouwers, the current financial director, will succeed her. The transition was described as a “reshuffle” in a press release, with gratitude expressed for Biebuyck’s leadership and confidence in Brouwers’ ability to continue the positive trajectory of the company.
Biebuyck took over as CEO in 2020 during the height of the coronavirus crisis, following the dismissal of Annick Van Overstraeten. The pandemic had a significant impact on the company’s financial performance, leading to two extended periods of closure. In response, Lunch Garden announced a transformation plan in 2020, which included potential job cuts affecting 138 out of the 1,100 employees at the time. By the end of 2022, Lunch Garden had accumulated a 36 million euro deficit in equity and had a debt burden of 74 million euros. Financial figures for 2023 have yet to be released.
The departure of Biebuyck marks the end of her tenure as CEO and comes at a crucial time for Lunch Garden as it navigates through the challenges posed by the pandemic and seeks to stabilize its financial position. With renewed focus on financial stability and operational efficiency, Lunch Garden aims to overcome setbacks from the past and build a sustainable future under Brouwers’ leadership.
