Supervalu CFO Knous Leaves

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu said last week that Pamela K. Knous, executive vice president and chief financial officer, has resigned to pursue “other career interests,” effective July 30. Supervalu said it has retained a search firm and expects to name a successor by the time it reports second-quarter results in October. “After serving the company for nearly 13 years, and supporting Craig as he became oriented in the early months of his tenure, we mutually agreed that now was an appropriate time for me to move on to a new chapter in my career,” Knous said in a prepared statement. Sherry M. Smith, currently senior vice president, finance, will serve as interim chief financial officer until the search is completed. Before joining Supervalu in 1997, Knous was executive vice president, CFO and treasurer at Vons Cos. from 1991 until 1997. Earlier in her career, she spent 14 years in the Los Angeles offices of KPMG Peat Marwick, where she ultimately became a partner.

ZABEL IS TARGET VP, GOV'T AFFAIRS

MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp. last week said it has hired Matt Zabel as vice president, government affairs, effective Aug. 23. He will be based in Washington, D.C., and will oversee teams in Minneapolis and D.C. Zabel, 42, most recently was chief of staff for U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. Prior to joining Thune's office in 2004, Zabel held various positions with the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Department of Justice and was an adjunct professor of law at George Mason University. “Matt brings broad knowledge on a range of important policy issues and significant experience within the legislative process to his new role,” said Tim Baer, executive vice president and general counsel, Target Corp.

GMA TAPS BRUNER AS SCIENCE OFFICER

WASHINGTON — Grocery Manufacturers Association last week said it named Leon Bruner senior vice president for scientific and regulatory affairs and chief science officer, effective Aug. 27. Most recently, he was director, environment, health and safety, at Procter & Gamble's Gillette group. He previously held a variety of positions at P&G and Gillette. He is a specialist in non-animal toxicity product-testing methods, and an expert in product safety and regularity compliance, GMA said. “Dr. Bruner is an accomplished and impressive consumer products scientist. His training in veterinary medicine and pharmacology, combined with his corporate and professional achievements, make him the right person for the job,” said Pamela Bailey, president and chief executive officer, GMA.