Limited assortment grocery chain Save-A-Lot has made a series of management changes, including four new hires and several internal promotions to strengthen the executive suite.

Bill Gillispie has joined the St. Louis-based Supervalu subsidiary as s.v.p. of marketing and merchandising. He previously held positions with Scotts Food, Cub Foods, and Jewel Food Stores.

Former Save-A-Lot licensed owner Tom Lenkevich has been named s.v.p. of operations. He previously held management positions at Meijer, A&P, and Farmer Jack's.

Two other executives have joined Save-A-Lot, including former Kroger and HEB veteran Andrea Wagner, who's been named v.p. of consumer brand strategy; and Vanessa Foster, who's been tapped as the chain's director of communications and community relations. Foster had previously managed community relations and multicultural marketing initiatives for Cartoon Network.

The newly promoted existing Save-A-Lot executives are John Gerber, upped to vice president of distribution; Mike Kemp, to v.p. of product segments; and Donna Mickens, to director of organization effectiveness.

Gerber, who's been with Supervalu since 1985, joined Save-A-Lot in 2002, and has held various roles in the company's distribution division.

Kemp joined Save-A-Lot in 2003, and has managed the company's procurement of meat and perishables.

Mickens will oversee executive-level development with a focus on succession planning and identification of key talent within the company.