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MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu Inc. has revealed the first changes to be made in its leadership ranks since Sam Duncan took the reins as president and chief executive officer last month.
Supervalu Inc. has revealed the first changes to be made in its leadership ranks since Sam Duncan took the reins as president and chief executive officer last month.
More appointments are to follow in coming weeks after Supervalu’s sale of the five supermarket banners it acquired from Albertsons Inc. to an investment group is finalized. That transaction is expected to be completed during the week of March 18.
The company has named Mark van Buskirk executive vice president of merchandising and marketing, with responsibility for all marketing and retail merchandising efforts, including oversight of private brands and retail pharmacy. Van Buskirk joins Supervalu from Kroger Co., where he spent the last 20 years in management positions, most recently serving as vice president of meat and seafood merchandising and procurement.
Reporting to Van Buskirk will be Steve Fox, who joins Supervalu as senior vice president of food merchandising. Fox is a 41-year veteran of Fred Meyer, a division of Kroger. While at Fred Meyer, Fox spent 10 years as vice president of produce merchandising and procurement and 11 years as vice president of grocery merchandising and procurement.
In addition, Rob Woseth has been appointed executive vice president and chief strategy officer. Woseth’s responsibilities will include estate and corporate development, identifying strategic growth opportunities that support independent grocers and working with the leadership of Supervalu’s retail banners to build its traditional and discount grocery businesses. Woseth spent the last 10 years at Albertsons Inc. and Albertsons LLC, where he occupied business development, strategy and leadership roles.
Several appointments have been made or confirmed in the leadership of Supervalu’s remaining retail banners. Ritchie Casteel has been appointed president and CEO of the Save-A-Lot hard discount grocery chain, effective immediately. Casteel spent more than 30 years with the original Albertsons Inc., where he last served as vice president of operations for the Intermountain West Division. He replaces Santiago Roces.
Other retail appointments that will take effect with the completion of the sale include:
• Eric Hymas will replace Marlene Gebhard as president of Shop ’N Save. He most recently served as senior vice president of merchandising for Supervalu.
• Bill Parker has been named president of Farm Fresh, effective immediately.
• Brian Audette will continue as president of Cub Foods, Matt Leiseth will continue as president of Hornbacher’s, and Bob Bly will continue as president of Shoppers.
Departing Supervalu upon completion of the transaction will be Kevin Holt, president of Supervalu Retail; Tim Lowe, executive vice president of merchandising; and Michael Moore, executive vice president and chief marketing officer.
