Rohter Named New Seasons Chairman

PORTLAND, Ore. — New Seasons Market yesterday said Brian Rohter, co-founder and chief executive officer, will retire and become chairman of the board of directors in January, 2010.

President Lisa Sedlar will be promoted to president and chief operating officer and will assume Rohter’s current responsibilities, completing a succession plan the company said it had initiated more than five years ago.

Also, as part of this transition, New Seasons Market is partnering with Endeavour Capital, a Portland private investment firm, to “help prepare the company to meet its long-term goal of creating a more broadly-based ownership structure,” the company said.

“From the beginning our goal was to be a sustainable local company that would be rooted in our community for the long-term and would have the ability to transition successfully to new generations of leadership,” said Stan Amy, one of the founders and current board chair, who will continue to serve on the New Season Market Board. The company did not disclose the value of the investment by Endeavour Capital.

New Seasons operates nine stores in the Portland area.

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