Ahold Delhaize USA's Retail Business Services hires Rom Kosla as CIO

Rom Kosla has joined Retail Business Services (RBS), the services arm of Ahold Delhaize USA, as executive vice president of IT and chief information officer.

Quincy, Mass.-based RBS said Tuesday that Kosla, who started at the company yesterday, will oversee all aspects of information technology for Ahold Delhaize’s U.S. businesses. In particular, he’s charged with delivering common systems and innovation that enable digital experiences in support of the omnichannel strategy of Ahold Delhaize USA’s brands, which include Stop & Shop, Giant Food, Giant/Martin’s, Food Lion and Hannaford, as well as the Peapod Digital Labs e-commerce unit.

Kosla (left) takes the CIO reins from Paul Scorza, who retired from RBS at the end of 2020 after four years in the role.

“It is an honor for me to join Retail Business Services,” Kosla said in a statement. “We’re emerging from an unprecedented time for the food retail industry, and evolving consumer expectations continue to require new technologies, agile work styles and more. I look forward to working alongside my new team and across the organization to support Ahold Delhaize USA and its local brands to pave the way for the future of grocery retail IT.”

Kosla comes to RBS after more than 14 years at beverage and food giant PepsiCo, where most recently he served as senior vice president and CIO of corporate and enterprise solutions. In that post, he was responsible for all enterprise applications, digital sales and mobile solutions platforms, along with application security and enterprise development and operations globally.

His 25 years of IT experience also includes more than two years as a manager at Deloitte Consulting and over nine years at Nestlé, most recently as manager of SAP development and middleware.

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“Rom has two-and-a-half decades of global IT experience across all aspects of the industry, from development and applications to infrastructure and e-commerce,” stated RBS President Roger Wheeler. “He not only brings a depth of experience that will create strong IT foundations and strategies that support the brands’ omnichannel ambitions, but he is also a great leader of people with a proven track record of developing an inclusive culture, where associates are engaged and find purpose in their work. We look forward to leveraging this strong blend of expertise and leadership during a pivotal time for Retail Business Services and all the U.S. businesses, as we continue to transform for the future and meet the needs of connected customers.”

Related:Ahold Delhaize USA’s Paul Scorza to retire from Retail Business Services

Besides technology, RBS provides Ahold Delhaize USA retail banners with services and support in merchandising, marketing, private brands, store operations, pharmacy, sourcing, financial, communications, supply chain and other areas.