EXECUTIVE CHANGES 2008-03-24

TESCO BRINGS ANOTHER EXECUTIVE TO THE U.S.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Jeff Adams, a veteran industry executive who has worked for Tesco in Thailand and the United Kingdom for the past 10 years, has moved to the chain's U.S. headquarters here “to strengthen the Fresh & Easy team,” a Tesco spokesman told SN. He said Adams' title and specific role have not been determined. Adams, an American, has been chief executive officer of Tesco Lotus, the U.K.-based company's Thailand operation, since 2004. Adams was instrumental in starting Lotus in 1993, and after it was acquired by Tesco in 1998, he was named chief operating officer. He moved to the U.K. in 2002 to run Tesco Express, the chain's convenience store operation, before returning to oversee Lotus two years later. Prior to founding Lotus, Adams worked for Wal-Mart and was instrumental in helping integrate Wal-Mart's Mexico operations with Commercial Mexicana.

FONG NAMED PRESIDENT, CEO OF CALIF. GROCERS

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Grocers Association here said it has named Ronald Fong as its new president and chief executive officer, effective March 31. He succeeds Peter Larkin, who held the posts for 11 years prior to his departure in December. Once Fong takes over, Jill Rulon, who served as acting president after Larkin left, will return to her position as senior vice president of CGA. Fong is the former president of United Markets, a Sacramento-based independent grocer that ceased operations in the early 1990s. He has spent the past 12 years as vice president of state government affairs for the California Credit Union League. “The grocery business has provided my family with the opportunity of serving our community for over 50 years,” Fong said, “and I am proud to come back to the business I have known all my life to help CGA members with the challenges and changes of the future.”