AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands — Dutch supermarket operator Ahold NV says Dick Boer, the chief operating officer of the company’s European division, will take over as chief executive officer in March.

Dutch supermarket operator Ahold NV says Dick Boer, the chief operating officer of the company’s European division, will take over as chief executive officer in March.

He will succeed John Rishton, who is leaving Ahold to become chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce PLC.

Boer, who is also a member of the company’s corporate executive board, has been with Ahold since 1998.

Sander van der Laan, general manager of Ahold’s Albert Heijn unit, has been named to take over as chief operating officer of Ahold Europe.

“I feel extremely proud and excited by the opportunity to lead Ahold as we continue to strengthen and grow the business.” Boer says.

The appointment of Boer as chief executive next spring was one of two executive changes the company made last month.

In addition, Carl Schlicker, currently chief executive of the Ahold USA retail operation, has been appointed chief operating officer of Ahold USA. He will assume the role when current chief operating officer Larry Benjamin retires in early 2011.

Executives say the appointments will alter the makeup of Ahold’s corporate executive board and will ensure a strong management team as the company moves forward.

“Dick, Carl and Sander are all extremely talented retailers and strong, experienced leaders,’’ says René Dahan, chairman of Ahold’s supervisory board. “They all played critical roles in the transformation of Ahold and will take the growth strategy forward.”

Besides Boer, the corporate executive board will consist of chief financial officer Kimberly Ross and chief corporate governance counsel Lodewijk Hijmans van den Bergh.

Ahold says this structure will ensure that the new COOs spend their time managing and strengthening the businesses while the board focuses on strategy and growth.

Board members also had praise for the departing executives.

“They leave Ahold in a strong position and exceptionally well placed for growth, and the board thanks them for their enormous contribution,” Dahan says about Rishton and Benjamin.