November saw a slew of grocery executive changes, including the announced departure of Kroger’s chief merchandising and marketing officer.
A number of these changes centered around top financial roles, with Natural Grocers and The Giant Company both naming new CFOs, and Publix announcing a new vice president of finance.
Here’s a look at seven key executive shifts that occurred throughout November.
1. Heritage Grocers Group welcomes grocery executive veteran to CEO role
The specialty Hispanic grocer named Suzy Monford as its new chairman and CEO. Monford brings more than 25 years of experience to Heritage Grocers, having previously served as PCC Community Markets’ CEO and as Kroger’s group vice president of e-commerce new markets.
Monford replaced Doug Sanders, who was Heritage’s CEO since 2022. Her appointment comes as the grocer prepares for its “next phase of growth,” according to Heritage board members.
2. Kroger’s CMO to step down
Kroger announced last month that Stuart Aitken, who has served as the grocer’s chief merchandising and marketing officer since 2020, is leaving at the end of the year. Kroger named its current senior vice president of operations, Mary Ellen Adcock, as Aitken’s successor.
Aitken will join retail data analytics company Circana as its new president and CEO at the start of next year.
3. The Giant Company names new CFO
In keeping with its string of high-level executive changes since last summer, The Giant Company named Will Regan as its new CFO, effective immediately. Regan is tasked with overseeing the company’s finance operations as well as real estate. He replaces Rebecca Lupfer, who became the grocer’s chief merchant in August.
Since appointing John Ruane as president in July 2023, The Giant Company has undergone numerous high-level executive shifts, including naming a new vice president of marketing, vice president of center store omnichannel merchandising, and senior vice president of operations, customer experience and perishable distribution.
4. Associated Grocers appoints interim president and CEO
To prepare for the departure of Manard Lagasse, Jr., who is leaving the company at the end of the year after nearly six years in the top leadership role, Associated Grocers named David Politz as interim president and CEO, effective immediately.
Politz has been with Associated Grocers for more than 40 years and most recently was the company’s senior vice president and chief information officer.
5. SpartanNash taps former Kroger executive as new retail chief
Djouma Barry began a new leadership role as SpartanNash’s senior vice president and chief retail officer after most recently serving as Kroger’s vice president of retail operations. Barry replaces Thomas Swanson, who is moving into a “consulting arrangement” with SpartanNash at the end of 2024.
This move continues SpartanNash’s strategy of recruiting executive talent with high-level experience at a time when it’s grappling with macroeconomic challenges that are hurting its financial results.
6. Publix readies for new vice president of finance
The Florida grocer announced the promotion of Doug Stalbaum to vice president of finance, which will take effect at the start of next year. Stalbaum is currently Publix’s vice president and controller, a position he has held since 2022.
Stalbaum will take charge of Publix’s manufacturing and distribution in his new role, building on his responsibility of overseeing the financial reporting process and the financial support of technology, pharmacy, retail business units and store-related accounting functions, according to the announcement.
7. Natural Grocers appoints new CFO
Last month, the grocer announced Richard Hallé will step into the top financial role on Jan. 1, 2025, succeeding Todd Dissinger who is retiring at the end of this year. Hallé will oversee the specialty grocer’s financial operations, including accounting, treasury, and financial planning and analysis. Before beginning his interim employment with Natural Grocers in early November, Hallé resigned from the grocer’s board of directors, its audit committee and its compensation committee.
Hallé brings roughly 15 years of CFO experience to his new role, having previously served as CFO for two separate companies: software development company Vival as well as IT services and IT consulting company DTN.
