Ahold USA’s Executive Moves Span Company

Ahold USA has made a series of executive appointments in an effort to restructure its support organization, simplify operations, speed up decision-making and support stores more effectively, 

"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 the Quincy, Mass.-based company. "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."

The management changes at Ahold USA are as follows:

Nick Bertram, currently SVP of store strategy and execution, will become SVP of merchandising strategy and support, a new function that will help simplify the organization and provide core merchandising teams with comprehensive support on product assortment, pricing and promotions. Dean Wilkinson, currently VP of sales and marketing for Maryland-based Giant Food of Landover, will replace Bertram as SVP of store strategy and execution.

Marissa Nelson, currently SVP of merchandising services and support, will lead an expanded focus on healthy living across Ahold USA’s companies as SVP of responsible retailing and healthy living, an expansion of the company's responsible retailing function.

Steve Rowell, currently SVP and deputy general counsel, will become SVP, deputy general counsel and communications, taking on additional responsibilities relating to external communications, including media relations, government relations and community affairs.

Ahold USA's revamped organizational structure is expected to go into effect on June 22.

Simultaneously, the company's retail divisions also revealed various executive appointments.

Mark McGowan will transition to EVP of operations for Ahold USA and president of the Stop & Shop New England division. McGowan's most recent role was Ahold USA EVP of merchandising for Ahold USA. During the transition, the SVPs of merchandising will report to McCann. Meanwhile, Don Sussman, who led the New England division on an interim basis, will now return full-time to his role as president of the Stop & Shop New York metro division, in Purchase, N.Y.

Also at the Quincy-based New England division, Russ Greenlaw, SVP of operations, will leave to take on a new special projects role for Ahold USA, starting June 1; Stacy Wiggins, one of Giant/Martin's regional VPs of operations, will succeed him. Further, Vinod Israni has been promoted to regional VP for region 1, having previously held the roles of district director, service manager and store manager.

John Ponnett is returning to Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant/Martin's as SVP of operations, after a stint as VP of asset protection for Ahold USA. He replaces Larry Stover, who in March said he would retire after 47 years at Giant/Martin's. 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 Giant/Martin's district director. He was also a store manager at several central Pennsylvania Giant/Martin's stores. 

Finally, at Giant Landover, Regional VP of Operations Mark Adamcik will become VP of sales and merchandising, effective May 18, succeeding Wilkinson; Toni Judy is moving from regional VP of operations, region 10 to regional VP of operations, region 9; and Robert Belcher will take over as regional VP, region 10, having most recently held the role of director of sales and merchandising (center store).

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