No other grocery executive moves last month shocked the industry as much as the rapid-fire CEO changes at Kroger and Albertsons.
On the morning of March 3, Kroger announced Rodney McMullen’s sudden exit, ending his 11-year run at the helm of the grocer after an investigation found that his personal conduct violated company policy.
Just hours later, Albertsons announced Vivek Sankaran will retire on May 1. Sankaran joined Albertsons as president and CEO in April 2019.
Both Sankaran and McMullen helmed their companies as they attempted to merge — an ultimately unsuccessful two-year effort — and are leaving at a time when both grocers face legal battles over who is at fault for the failed transaction.
Here’s a roundup of notable executive shifts that took place in March.
New CEO at Albertsons
Albertsons appointed Susan Morris, currently its executive vice president and chief operations officer, to take over as CEO and join the company’s board following Sankaean’s departure.
Morris has worked for nearly four decades at Albertsons and has served as COO since 2018. In a statement, Morris said she has worked with Sankaran to develop plans to boost the grocer’s growth.
Albertsons said in a regulatory filing in early March that Sankaran’s decision to leave the company was “not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.”
Kroger undergoes major executive changes
As the grocery company searches for a permanent CEO, Kroger appointed Ronald Sargent as interim CEO and chairman of the board of directors in the wake of McMullen’s departure.
Kroger also announced it formed a new e-commerce business unit with Yael Cosset at the helm. Cosset, who now holds the role of chief digital officer, will direct technology and data operations for Kroger in addition to overseeing the new division. He previously served as Kroger’s chief information officer.
At the end of March, Rudy DiPietro stepped into the role of president of Kroger’s Dallas Division. DiPietro, a longtime Ahold Delhaize USA executive, replaced Keith Shoemaker, who retired after nearly 48 years with Kroger.
Dollar Tree taps new CFO
The discounter named Stewart Glendinning as its chief financial officer on March 5, replacing Jeff Davis, who announced in December his plans to leave the company.
Glendinning joined the discounter in January in a senior role focused on transformation initiatives, including a review of strategic alternatives for the Family Dollar business. He previously served as the CEO of Express Inc. and CFO at Tyson Foods.
At the end of March, Dollar Tree unveiled its plans to sell Family Dollar for just over $1 billion to private equity firms Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management.
The Giant Company names new VP of center store merchandising
The Ahold Delhaize-owned banner announced Friday it promoted Steve Allison to vice president of center store merchandising, effective immediately.
Allison has held several merchandising and commercial roles since joining The Giant Company in 2018, including director of commercial planning and, most recently, director of category management of DSD and beer & wine.
In the new role, Allison will oversee the grocer’s non-food categories such as health, pet, baby and seasonal; frozen; dairy; alcohol; snacks; and global flavors. He will report to Rebecca Lupfer, the grocer’s senior vice president and chief merchant.
SpartanNash’s top tech exec leaving
Masiar Tayebi, chief strategy and information officer and executive vice president at SpartanNash, will exit the company in mid-April, the grocery retailer and wholesaler disclosed in a March 13 regulatory filing.
The Michigan-based company did not say why Tayebi is leaving, but indicated that he will receive benefits “consistent with a qualifying termination of employment other than for death, disability or cause.” Tayebi joined SpartanNash in April 2021.
Instacart welcomes new chief accounting officer
The grocery technology company named Lisa Blackwood-Kapral as its chief accounting officer and principal accounting officer. Blackwood-Kapral takes the reins from Alan Ramsay, who left on March 10 after more than five years with the company.
Blackwood-Kapral most recently worked at Lyft, where she served as chief accounting officer and as interim CFO. Before Lyft, she was Shutterfly’s chief accounting officer.
