DIETRICH RESIGNS FROM FRESH BRANDS BOARD
said G. William Dietrich has resigned from the company's board of directors. "Dietrich resigned from the board of directors to commit his full energies to the pursuit of other business ventures. His resignation was voluntary and not the result of any disagreement with the company or its board of directors," Fresh Brands said in a Securities and Exchange Commission document. Dietrich, a former chief executive officer of environmental services company Onyx North America, had served on the Fresh Brands board since 2001. Louis Stinebaugh, Fresh Brands' CEO, told SN the company would address the issue of a replacement board member next month.
MEIJER NAMES POLITICAL VETERAN AS NEW DIRECTOR
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Meijer here said Mark Murray has been elected to its board of directors. Murray is currently president of Grand Valley State University, and has a career in state and local government in Michigan. Murray previously served as state treasurer and state budget director, among other state government positions. He became Grand Valley president in 2001. "Mark adds a unique perspective to our board of directors and strengthens our corporate leadership team," Hank Meijer, co-chairman and chief executive officer of Meijer, said in a statement.
WESTERN SUPERMARKETS ELEVATES METCALF
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Western Supermarkets has named Darwin Metcalf executive vice president, a newly created position. He will report to Ken Hubbard, president and owner of the nine-store operation, and will be responsible for planning, development and overall operations of the company. Metcalf served as Western's vice president of operations for the last eight years. He has been with Western since the beginning of his career. Western has not named a successor to fill Metcalf's previous position.
AG NEW ENGLAND PROMOTES MERRILL, WHEELER
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Associated Grocers of New England here has named Tim Merrill, former interim general manager of AG Supermarkets, general manager of the retail subsidiary that operates four stores under the Vista Foods and River View banners. Merrill reports to Mike Bourgoine, AG New England's president and chief executive officer. He was named interim general manager last year and has focused on improving overall performance of the wholesale cooperative's corporate stores. In addition, the wholesaler has promoted Rick Wheeler to vice president of wholesale merchandising and procurement. He previously served for two years as director of perishable merchandising. AG New England is a retailer-owned cooperative serving independent retailers in Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the upstate New York/Albany area.
BIG Y FOODS' BRUNELLE BECOMES MFA CHAIRMAN
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- David L. Brunelle, vice president of operations for Big Y Foods here, has been appointed chairman of the board for the Massachusetts Food Association, Boston. Brunelle has been part of the MFA since 1996 and served as vice chairman of the board of directors from 2002. As MFA's chairman, Brunelle will oversee a board of more than 50 people during a two-year term.
BARBER LEAVING PENN TRAFFIC FOR BANKING COMPANY
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Bernadette R. Barber, vice president, human resources and operations, Penn Traffic, based here, has been named vice president and director of human resources, Community Bank System, Dewitt, N.Y., effective next month. Penn Traffic said it was not ready to name a successor. Barber, who has been with Penn Traffic 14 years, is responsible for compensation and benefits, risk management, payroll, labor relations, recruitment, training and development, diversity, employee communication and public relations. At Community Bank, she will succeed Susan Abbott, who is retiring. Community Bank System is part of Community Bank N.A., which has 129 branches across upstate New York, where it operates as Community Bank, and northeastern Pennsylvania, where it operates as First Liberty Bank & Trust.
