BJ's Selects Sen to Be New CEO

Laura Sen

NATICK, Mass. — BJ's Wholesale Club here has made it official: Laura Sen will be its next chief executive officer. Sen, currently BJ's president and chief operating officer, will take over for Herb Zarkin effective Feb. 1. Zarkin, who will remain chairman of the board, said last month that Sen would be his likely successor. She will retain her role as president. “Laura has done an outstanding job of managing our day-to-day operations for the past year,” Zarkin said in a statement. “Our business has never run more smoothly. Laura and her team have improved our members' experience by providing better merchandise quality and value and by raising standards in the clubs.” BJ's also announced that Christine Cournoyer, COO of Picis Inc., Wakefield, Mass., which provides information technology products to the health care industry, has been named to its board of directors.

SUPERVALU TAPS JOHNSON FOR IR POST

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu here last week said it has named Robert V. Johnson as vice president, investor relations, effective Jan. 5. Johnson comes to Supervalu after having served for 32 years with J.C. Penney Corp., including, most recently, as vice president of investor relations. Johnson will succeed David Oliver at Supervalu, who has served in the investor relations role on an interim basis since earlier this year. Oliver will remain with Supervalu's finance department.

GIANT PROMOTES HARFIELD IN HR ROLE

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant Food Stores here has promoted Steve Harfield to the position of director of organizational effectiveness and diversity, reporting to John Bussenger, executive vice president of human resources. Harfield, who replaces the retiring Deborah Vereen, will direct integration of business practices throughout the organization, focusing on the development of employees and ensuring an ethical and equitable work environment spanning vendor relations, customer service and community involvement. Harfield joined Giant in 1999 as an assistant store manager and subsequently managed several Giant stores.

EFIRD TO TAKE CEO JOB AT FRED'S

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Bruce Efird has been named chief executive officer of general merchandise discounter Fred's Inc. here, effective Feb. 1. Efird, a former supermarket executive, will retain the title of president. He succeeds Michael J. Hayes, who will continue as Fred's chairman. Efird joined Fred's in September 2007 after serving as executive vice president of merchandising for Meijer. Prior to that, he held management positions with Bruno's Supermarkets and Food Lion. Fred's operates 658 stores.