1Magne Setnes

Heineken

Chief Supply Chain Officer

Magne Setnes has been the Chief Supply Chain Officer at Heineken since 2020, bringing nearly 25 years of experience with the company, which he joined after completing a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. In his role, he leads Heineken’s global supply chain and has played a key part in building a collaborative network that spans almost 200 production sites.

Setnes is a strong advocate for digitalisation, leveraging IoT and real-time data to enhance agility and streamline operations. He envisions a supply chain where collaboration leads to mutual success: “Our dream is to create a truly collaborative supply chain… where we all win together.” With a focus on sustainability, he is guiding Heineken towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, stressing the importance of shared responsibility among partners: “We’re all in this together, from barley to bar.”

He began his current position at the Heineken Global Supply Chain Head Office in Amsterdam just as the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the office’s closure. Reflecting on that challenging start, he noted, “It was tough working in a global organisation without the chance to meet people face-to-face. I’m relieved that’s behind us, although the past four years have brought even more volatility.” In an interview with Supply Chain Movement in Q3, he explained, “In Amsterdam, we manage all of Heineken’s global supply chain activities, driving improvement programs, policies, compliance, and overseeing investments, service levels, and strategies. Local operations are handled by our markets through operating companies, which we support with anything beyond their daily tasks. We have nearly 200 production sites, including breweries that report to our global operations, allowing us to monitor manufacturing performance. Additionally, we maintain a network of over 500 distribution centers and warehouses worldwide. While we are navigating significant changes like the energy transition, sustainability, and digital tool implementation, we must remain focused on our current business.”