Like many of his peers, Yassine Taouel started working as a stock associate at the Albert Heijn near his home in Tilburg when he was 15 years old. However, while many youngsters tend to change their part-time jobs after a few years, Yassine remained loyal to Albert Heijn. “I was given a lot of trust and responsibilities right from the start because my manager saw potential in me. That laid the foundation for the rest of my career. Sixteen years later, I still enjoy working here immensely. I’m not sure there are many other companies that are so inspiring and put such a strong focus on helping people thrive.”
Yassine has long moved on from being a shelf stocker and now only visits the Albert Heijn in Tilburg as a customer. Today, he works for European Business Services (EBS), the department within Ahold Delhaize that supports the organization’s local brands in reaching their strategic objectives. “The past few years have been an incredible journey filled with opportunities cross brands. This is typical of a professional path here: there are so many ways to develop and grow within this company. If you communicate your ambitions clearly, Ahold Delhaize will do everything it can to help you achieve them.”
It all started back in 2008 in his very first role, where his ambitious nature and strong social skills quickly stood out. Within two years, he had been promoted from shelf stocker to team leader. “I was quite young for a team leader, but my manager believed I had the capabilities needed to succeed in the role. I was very driven and made it clear that I enjoyed taking on more responsibility. I also got along with everyone, which made an impression on my manager. Later on, when Albert Heijn expanded into Belgium, I was involved in store renovations and coordinated with various stakeholders and the head office. The trust I was given made the company a place where I could really grow and feel at home.”
"Over time, Yassine moved from a position in HR Services to the role of Project Management Specialist and on to his current job: Specialist in HR IT & Data Management. His team's main responsibility revolves around ensuring the accurate representation of all positions within the European Ahold Delhaize brands in the HR system, including all the necessary configurations. “We maintain employee data for everyone in our MyHR Connect system, from the youngest cashier to the CEO – a total of 400,000 associates right now, but that number obviously changes daily.
By effectively managing all this data, which includes personal information, contract details, particulars about career paths, the digital learnings offered through our HR System MyHRConnect, and associates’ personal development goals – we ensure that everyone in the organization enjoys a smooth, efficient, and safe work experience.”
The ones working behind the scenes
Yassine highlights the profound impact that the HR IT & Data Management team has on the rest of the company – a fact that often goes unnoticed by many associates. “We influence everything from system access for different roles to the operation of essential applications used across the organization. We're the ones working behind the scenes to make it all happen seamlessly. Without us, tasks like signing contracts, accessing systems and applications, or even actually starting your first day at work would be impossible. It's something many people overlook, but our work plays a critical role in ensuring that everyone in this company can carry out their duties effectively.”
In his own duties, Yassine derives motivation from those around him, especially his team members. "We're a group of 36 individuals spread across Europe, with seven of us based in the Netherlands. Each person brings unique expertise to the table, overseeing areas like payroll, job functions, recruitment, onboarding, position management, and talent & learning. Our team is not only highly skilled but also culturally diverse and vibrant. Coming from various backgrounds and countries, including India, Turkey, the Netherlands, and in my case, Morocco, we create a rich tapestry of experience and talents. It's inspiring to see how much value we can add when we bring together our diverse personalities and skills. It’s very important to me to be part of an organization that strives for diversity and inclusion. Above all, this is an organization where team spirit is at the heart of everything – for us, it’s truly about winning together as a team!"
A focus on continuous improvement
Together with his dedicated team, Yassine is always pursuing system advancements. “We’re continuously looking for ways to simplify our system, and make it more user-friendly. Our approach aligns perfectly with Ahold Delhaize's innovative ethos. As our system covers all the company’s associates, and because data security is paramount, we're constantly evolving, especially as regulations change. Every country has its own rules, so we adapt accordingly as quickly as we can.
At one point, digital contract signing wasn't possible in some countries, but now we're integrating it across all Ahold Delhaize brands. We're always trying to improve the system's logic to promote ease of use. Examples include features like the opportunity to easily update one’s address when moving homes, signing contracts digitally, or preventing duplicate data entry if employees leave for a period and then return. Another instance is bank account verifications to ensure correct payments. It’s these sorts of improvements and applications that we’re all responsible for. Requests for such enhancements often come from the different brands. When we implement them successfully, it's extremely satisfying. Continuous improvement is our top priority.”
His work is always diverse and there’s never a dull moment. “In addition to the variety of tasks on my daily agenda, I collaborate with numerous teams and parties, including the IT, HR Services, AH Tech, Finance, and of course, my colleagues within EBS. The social cohesion within Ahold Delhaize is truly fantastic. You can feel it the moment you walk into the office.”
Yassine commutes from Tilburg to the company headquarters in Zaandam two to three times a week, starting his journey at 6am. Exactly two hours later, he arrives at the office. He boards the train again at 3pm to be home by 5pm. “Initially, I had to think carefully about whether I could handle the commute. I transitioned to the headquarters in July 2022, in the later stages of the pandemic. The timing made the change a bit easier because working from home a few days a week had become the norm by then, and it still is today. The whole team is now in the office two days a week, and it’s good to all be there together. It was when I was working in the role of PMO Specialist, focusing on integrating MyHR Connect across Europe, that I really got to know all the international brands. During that time, I also had the opportunity to travel to Greece several times to provide assistance and share my expertise, which was very exciting. I'm grateful for all the opportunities I've had at this company so far, and will hopefully continue to have in the future.”
From September onwards, life will look quite different for Yassine as he and his wife are expecting their first child, a little girl. There are certainly exciting times ahead! “I'm really looking forward to it. Whether I'll still enjoy getting on the train at 6am and being on the road for so long remains to be seen. Fortunately, Ahold Delhaize is very flexible, so there's always room for conversation and alternative arrangements. I'll be the first in my family – I have three younger sisters and a brother – to have a child, so it will be my parents' first grandchild. We're all very close, so everyone is extremely excited and can't wait for her arrival. Whdiscuat life lesson do I hope to impart to my daughter? That she should always feel open and free to be who she wants to be, and that she must embrace life with open arms.”
Name: Yassine Taouel (1991)
Started working at Ahold Delhaize: May 2008
Studied: IT & Business Management, Fontys Tilburg (2014)
Living with: My wife, Chaima, soon to be joined by our new daughter
Hobbies: Playing soccer, spending time with family and friends, and watching Formula 1 (Max Verstappen)
Wake me up in the middle of the night for: An international trip
Favorite holiday destination: Morocco
Life-changing event: The move to Ahold Delhaize's headquarters in Zaandam was truly a game-changer. Everything in my life changed at that point. Not only had I just gotten married, but I also started traveling much more and working from home a few days a week. All these changes have greatly impacted my life, but the most important one is just around the corner: the arrival of our baby girl
Biggest source of inspiration: My Family
Best advice I’ve ever received: “When one door closes, another one opens; but we so often look so long and regretfully at the closed door that we do not see the ones that open for us”
