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Ahold USA Continues With Organizational Restructure

Nick Bertram
Nick Bertram

Ahold USA on Wednesday provided what it calls “an initial update on the restructuring of its support organization and changes it is making to simplify operations, speed up decision-making and support stores more effectively.” It is part of the restructuring effort that the company announced in March.

“With a clear and constant focus on serving the evolving needs of customers and stores, we are making significant, rapid progress in turning Ahold USA into an even faster, stronger and more responsive organization,” said James McCann, COO of Quincy, Massachusetts-based Ahold USA. “While there are still important decisions to make over the next few weeks, we now have a new organizational framework in place—ahead of schedule—that reduces management layers, increases the number of direct reports for many managers and brings important decisions closer to the stores that serve local shoppers each day.”

These changes include:

• Naming Nick Bertram, currently SVP of store strategy and execution, to the role of SVP of merchandising strategy and support. Ahold says this is a new function that will help simplify the organization and improve the company’s ability to serve customers by providing core merchandising teams with comprehensive support on product assortment, pricing and promotions. Dean Wilkinson, currently VP of sales and marketing for Giant Landover, will replace Bertram as SVP of store strategy and execution.

Marissa Nelson
Marissa Nelson

• Appointing Marissa Nelson, currently SVP of merchandising services and support, to lead an expanded focus on healthy living across Ahold USA’s companies as SVP of responsible retailing and healthy living. This is an expansion of Ahold USA’s current responsible retailing function.

• Appointing Steve Rowell, currently SVP and deputy general counsel, as SVP, deputy general counsel and communications to take on additional responsibilities overseeing external communications, including media relations, government relations and community affairs.

Steven Rowell
Steven Rowell

The company’s new organizational structure is expected to go into effect June 22.

In addition, as previously announced, Mark McGowan is moving into his roles as EVP of operations for Ahold USA and president of the Stop & Shop New England Division. This change originally was announced in March. McGowan most recently served as EVP of merchandising for Ahold USA. The SVPs of merchandising will report to McCann for an interim period.

Ahold USA supports four regional divisions—Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Landover and Giant Carlisle—that together operate more than 770 supermarkets with approximately 120,000 associates in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Ahold USA also owns and operates Peapod, a leading e-commerce grocery shopping/delivery service.

In Related Ahold USA News…

Stop & Shop New England makes executive appointments

The Stop & Shop New England Division says that its SVP of operations, Russ Greenlaw, will leave the division to take on a new special projects role for Ahold USA, starting June 1. Stacy Wiggins, who currently serves as regional VP of operations for Giant/Martin’s, will succeed Greenlaw once he starts his new position. In addition to her work with Giant/Martin’s, Wiggins has worked for Giant Landover, Stop & Shop New York Metro and Walmart.  A search is under way for Wiggins’ replacement at Giant/Martin’s.

In addition, Vinod Israni is being promoted to the role of regional VP for Region 1. Israni has been with Stop & Shop New England since 2000, serving as district director, service manager and store manager.

McGowan said, “Russ, Stacy and Vinod are strong leaders for our division, and I want to wish them all the best in their new positions.”

Ponnett named SVP of operations for Giant/Martin’s     

John Ponnett is returning to Giant/Martin’s as SVP of operations. He most recently served as VP of asset protection at Ahold USA. He succeeds Larry Stover, who in March announced his retirement after 47 years of service to Giant/Martin’s. Ponnett will transition into his new role and work side-by-side with Stover until Stover’s retirement in July.

John Ponnett
John Ponnett

Ponnett has worked with Ahold USA businesses for more than 27 years, including as regional VP of operations, director of fresh sales and marketing and district director for Giant/Martin’s. He also was a store manager in several Giant/Martin’s stores in central Pennsylvania.

“We are extremely grateful for Larry’s extraordinary contributions to Giant/Martin’s and, in John, are glad to have a tremendous leader to carry this work forward,” said Tom Lenkevich, president of Giant/Martin’s.

Executive appointments at Giant Landover

Mark Adamcik, regional VP of operations for Giant Food of Landover, has been appointed VP of sales and merchandising, effective May 18. He will succeed Dean Wilkinson (see Ahold story, above).

Dean Wilkinson
Dean Wilkinson

Giant Landover also has made the following management changes, all of which become effective May 18:

• Toni Judy is moving from regional VP of operations for Region 10, to regional VP of operations for Region 9. Judy joined Giant in 2012 as a district director and became regional VP for Region 10 in June 2013. She has more than 30 years experience in the food retail industry, including management roles with Winn-Dixie and Sam’s Club.

• Robert Belcher has been appointed the new regional VP for Region 10. He most recently served as the director of sales and merchandising (center store). Belcher, who has worked in retail management for more than 30 years, started with Giant in 2011 as district director. Prior to joining Giant Landover, Belcher held a senior operations position at Walmart.

Gordon Reid, president of Giant Landover, said, “Mark, Dean, Toni and Robert are exceptional leaders, and I want to wish them all the best in their new positions.”

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