NGA Names Larkin as New CEO

ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Grocers Association here said Wednesday it has named Peter Larkin to succeed Thomas K. Zaucha as president and chief executive officer of the association.

Larkin has been running his own Sacramento, Calif.-based consulting firm since retiring in 2008 as president and CEO of the California Grocers Association after 11 years in that job. He previously was vice president, state government relations and environmental affairs, for Food Marketing Institute after working for Kroger Co., Cincinnati; the Tobacco Institute; and Phillip Morris USA.

Zaucha, who last year unveiled his plans to retire sometime in 2010, told SN Larkin’s well-rounded background — with industry experience, association experience and government relations experience — made him well qualified for the NGA post

Larkin is NGA’s second selection to succeed Zaucha. In December the association chose Mike Jackson, who had been president and chief operating officer of Supervalu, Minneapolis, as its new president and CEO; however, Jackson changed his mind about taking the post, citing "personal reasons,” in mid-January, and NGA’s executive search committee started a new search.

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