Ann Biebuyck, who assumed the role of CEO at Lunch Garden four years ago, is stepping down. The company has confirmed her departure and announced that she will be succeeded by Stephan Brouwers, the current financial director. In a press release, Lunch Garden described the leadership change as a “reshuffle” and expressed gratitude to Biebuyck for her leadership while expressing confidence in Brouwers’ ability to continue the positive trajectory of the company. Brouwers has been working closely with Biebuyck in preparation for this transition and has been the financial director at Lunch Garden since 2021.
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 leadership change at Lunch Garden comes at a crucial time for the company as it navigates through the challenges posed by the pandemic and seeks to stabilize its financial position. Biebuyck’s departure marks the end of her tenure as CEO, while Brouwers prepares to take on the responsibilities of leading the company forward. With a renewed focus on financial stability and operational efficiency, Lunch Garden aims to overcome the setbacks of the past and build a sustainable future for the business under Brouwers’ leadership.