Marc Hofman, former chief of Colruyt and Ter Beke, has died

Marc Hofman, a key figure at Colruyt Group for many years and former CEO of Ter Beke (now What’s Cooking), has died of cancer at the age of 68. The discreet but influential executive left his mark on several major Belgian companies.

A discreet force behind the scenes

Marc Hofman passed away on Monday, November 9, after a long illness. He began his career as an auditor at Arthur Andersen and subsequently held management positions at Apple Belgium and the tourism group Sun International. In 1997, he made the switch to the food company Ter Beke, where he rose to the position of CEO in 2008.

In 2013, he left Ter Beke to join Colruyt Group, initially as chief financial officer. Later, as chief operating officer, he took responsibility for the entire retail operation and the IT division. Hofman strongly believed in the supermarket group’s unique character: in the face of growing competition from the Netherlands, Colruyt had to remain true to its identity and invest in its existing strengths. And that identity, according to Hofman, was defending the interests and wallets of consumers.

Hofman was known as an exceptionally driven manager who preferred to work behind the scenes rather than in the spotlight. He remained at Colruyt for two years beyond the standard retirement age and helped guide the group through the COVID-19 crisis. He retired in April 2022. Afterward, he remained active as a board member, including at Van de Velde and Arvesta.