MINNEAPOLIS -- Supervalu here said last week that Jeff Noddle was named president and chief operating officer in the first stage of a leadership transition that will take place over the next year.
including its retail store network of over 1,100 stores and its national distribution network, supplying over 5,100 stores throughout the country. In his position he will continue to report to Mike Wright, Supervalu chairman and chief executive officer. Noddle also will become a director of the company.
Wright said he will step down as CEO by the next annual meeting in June 2001, and thereafter continue as chairman of the board.
Wright said these moves are part of a planned leadership transition process that was started a year ago by the board of directors to determine his ultimate successor.
Wright joined Supervalu as senior vice president in 1977 and became president in 1978 and CEO in 1981. He was named chairman in 1982.
Noddle's career includes both retail and distribution-related positions since joining the company in 1976 as director of retail operations at the J.M. Jones division, Champaign, Ill. From 1982-1985 he served as president of Supervalu's Fargo and Miami divisions. He was promoted to corporate vice president, Merchandising in 1985 and corporate senior vice president, Marketing in 1988. He was named executive vice president, Marketing in 1992, with responsibility for the company's retail operations, along with Supervalu pharmacy, wholesale merchandising and procurement and the company's international operations.
