Bi-Lo Names Byars New President, CEO 2009-02-23

MAULDIN, S.C. — Michael Byars will take over as president and chief executive officer of Bi-Lo, the retailer here said last week. Byars, whose appointment is effective Feb. 23, most recently was CEO of Minyard Food Stores, Dallas. He previously was with Tampa, Fla.-based Kash n' Karry, and began his career with Food Lion, Bi-Lo said. Randall Onstead, who was serving as interim CEO at Bi-Lo since late last year, will stay with the retailer as its chairman.

WAL-MART PROMOTES MARS TO EVP, CAO

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores here said last week it has promoted Tom Mars to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief administrative officer of the company's U.S. division. He previously had been general counsel. Succeeding him in that role will be Jeff Gearhart, a veteran of the company's legal department. Mars' new role will encompass human resources operations for the U.S. operations and the compliance department, reports said.

ALTSCHUL TO LEAD IGA PRIVATE BRANDS

CHICAGO — IGA here said last week it has named Wayne Altschul to the newly created position of director of private brands. He will direct IGA's private-brands program, including product development and promotions, and will be responsible for communicating strategy to licensed distribution centers and IGA vendors and manufacturers. The job with IGA marks Altshcul's return to the retail food business after two years running an automobile service company and seven years in foodservice; earlier in his career, he worked for Fleming, marketing, selling and procuring products in the wholesaler's private-label program.

EMLING NAMED TO SVP POST AT RILA

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Retail Industry Leaders Association here announced that John Emling has joined as senior vice president, government relations. He will manage RILA's federal government affairs team and political outreach program. Emling most recently served as deputy assistant to the president, Office of Legislative Affairs, at the White House. Prior to that, Emling was a deputy assistant secretary for legislative affairs at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He previously served in leadership offices in both the House of Representatives and the Senate and as a legislative affairs manager for the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

MARTIRE TAPPED AS GMDC ED CHAIR

COLORADO SPRINGS — Global Market Development Center here has named Lou Martire, vice president of trade development at Energizer Holdings, chairman of GMDC's Education Leadership Council, which is responsible for producing research, educational programming and other educational benefits for the membership. Martire will serve a two-year period and takes over from Mark Valesano of Wegmans Food Markets, who previously held the position.

EX-PATHMARK CEO DONALD TO TEACH

BOTHELL, Wash. — Jim Donald, the former chief executive officer of Starbucks and a veteran executive of supermarket companies Safeway and Pathmark, has joined the faculty at University of Washington-Bothell here as an executive-in-residence, the university said. Donald had left as Starbucks' CEO last year; prior to that he was CEO at Pathmark Stores and an executive vice president in Safeway's Eastern Division.