AMSTERDAM — Ahold here yesterday said it has reorganized its business in the U.S. and Europe to better focus on local market nuances and growth opportunities.

The company divided its Stop & Shop operations into two divisions based on geography — Stop & Shop New England and Stop & Shop Metro New York — creating a total of four U.S. divisions, including Giant-Landover and Giant-Carlisle.

Carl Schlicker, who had been chief executive officer of Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover, was named CEO of all four U.S. divisions.

Sander van der Laan, who had been CEO of Giant-Carlisle, will return to the Netherlands to become general manager of Ahold’s Albert Heijn chain, effective in January, 2010. A successor to head Giant-Carlisle will be named in the near future, Ahold said.

Other changes in the U.S. include:

• Robin Michel, formerly general manager, Giant-Landover, has been named president of that division.
• Mark McGowan, formerly senior vice president, sales and operations, Stop & Shop, has been named president of the new Shop & Shop New England division.
• Ron Onorato, formerly SVP, sales and operations, Stop & Shop, was named president of the new Stop & Shop Metro New York division.
• Bill Holmes, most recently executive vice president and general manager of sales and operations, Stop & Shop, was named EVP, retail operations development.

In addition, these executives were named to lead the combined core functions at Ahold USA:

• John Bussinger, formerly EVP of human resources, Giant-Carlisle, was named EVP, organizational development, Ahold USA, to help transition to the new structure.
• Tom Hippler remains EVP and general counsel Paula Labian remains EVP, human resources.
• Jeff Martin becomes EVP, merchandising and marketing.
• Paula Price remains EVP and chief financial officer.
• Don Sussman becomes EVP, supply chain.

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