PEAPOD NAMES FOUNDER PARKINSON AS PRESIDENT
d the company's founder, Andrew Parkinson, as president. The Internet grocer was founded by Parkinson and his brother in 1989; it is currently owned by Ahold. Parkinson succeeds Marc van Gelder, formerly president and chief executive officer, who is joining the executive board of OPG Group N.V., a pharmacy and medical supply retail and distribution company owned by Ahold in the Netherlands. "We are excited to have Andrew Parkinson leading us forward," said Bill Grize, president and chief executive officer of Ahold U.S. Retail, in a statement. "His passion for excellence and commitment to the business are the right ingredients for Peapod's continued success." Most recently, Parkinson served as chief financial officer of Peapod. The Internet grocer partners with Ahold's chains in the United States to offer Web-based delivery and also operates a warehouse-based service here.
WHOLE FOODS APPOINTS CO-PRESIDENTS IN REALIGNMENT
AUSTIN, Texas -- Whole Foods Market here has named two company veterans as co-presidents of the natural-products chain and also created two new operating divisions. John Mackey, chairman and chief executive officer, said he would relinquish the role of president to A.C. Gallo and Walter Robb, who have shared the titles of executive vice president of operations since February 2001, and of chief operating officer since December of last year. The company also named Lee Valkenaar to the newly created position of executive vice president of retail support. He had been president of the company's Mid-Atlantic Region. Whole Foods also divided its Southwest Region into the Southwest and Rocky Mountain regions, and its Northern Pacific Region into the Northern California and Pacific Northwest regions.
GELSON'S PARENT TAPS JENSEN TO FILL CFO POST
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Arden Group here, parent of the Gelson's Markets chain, named Debra L. Jensen chief financial officer. She joins the company from Wild Oats Markets, Boulder, Colo., where she served as national operations controller from 2001 to August 2004. Jensen also worked for Whole Foods Market, Austin, Texas, as controller for the Northern Pacific Region from 1997 to 2001. Prior to that, she was employed by a division of Kroger's Compton, Calif.-based Food 4 Less chain from 1988 to 1997. Jensen, 51, succeeds David M. Oliver, who left Arden in April to join Supervalu, Minneapolis, as controller.
SEIFERT JOINS ALBERTSONS' BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOISE, Idaho -- Albertsons here said Kathi P. Seifert has been named a director of the company. She recently retired as executive vice president of Kimberly-Clark Corp., Irving, Texas, where she had worked since 1978. The appointment of Seifert, 55, brings the total number of Albertsons directors to 11.
