Van Eerd studied business administration in Utrecht and the United States. In 1992, he joined Jumbo, the family business founded by his father, Karel van Eerd. He started his career as a product manager of the bread department and later became supermarket manager. In 1996, he became general manager at Jumbo and in 2002 he was appointed general manager.[2]
As general manager, Van Eerd led the expansion of Jumbo, which was characterised by strategic acquisitions. Under his leadership, Super de Boer and C1000 were acquired, establishing Jumbo as one of the largest supermarket chains in the Netherlands. Van Eerd remained general manager until his resignation in 2022.[3]
Criminal investigation and resignation from Jumbo
In September 2022, Van Eerd was involved in a large-scale money laundering investigation. The FIOD raided his home and the Jumbo head office in Veghel,[4] The FIOD found €448,000 in cash, part of which hidden in a plastic bag in a refrigerator, mainly in five-hundred-euro banknotes.[5] Van Eerd was arrested and interrogated for five days.[5]
The trial against him began in September 2024.[6] He was suspected of accepting bribes, issuing false invoices and engaging in ‘habitual money laundering’; the frequent money laundering that it became a habit.[5]
In connection with the criminal case, Van Eerd stepped down as general manager of Jumbo in September 2022 - initially temporarily for as long as the criminal investigation would last, but in March 2023 his departure became permanent with the appointment of interim CEO Ton van Veen as permanent chairman of the board.[7][3]
Racing career
In addition to his business career, Van Eerd was active in motorsport. He started racing in Formula Renault in 1993 and became Benelux champion in 1996. He also participated in rallies, including the Dakar rally, and founded Racing Team Nederland in 2017, which participated in the European Le Mans Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship. In 2019, his team won the 6 Hours of Fuji.[8] In 2021, van Eerd won the FIA WEC championship in the LMP2 Pro/Am category.[9]
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