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PCC Community Markets hires Chris Naismith as CFO

Susan Livingston tapped as VP of marketing + purpose, Michele Mallory as VP of IT

Russell Redman

October 25, 2022

4 Min Read
PCC Community Markets store-signs.jpg
The appointments of Naismith, Livingston and Mallory fill out the executive team under Krish Srinivasan, who became president and CEO of PCC in January.PCC Community Markets

Chris Naismith has been named chief financial officer at PCC Community Markets, which also has appointed Susan Livingston as vice president of marketing purpose and Michele Mallory as vice president of IT.

With the moves, the three executives become part of PCC’s leadership team, the Seattle-based food cooperative said Tuesday. PCC noted that the appointments, too, complete the executive team that will steer its recently defined three-year strategic plan under the helm of Krish Srinivasan, who became president and CEO in January following the exit of Suzanne Monford in August 2021.

Chris Naismith-PCC Community Markets.jpgAs CFO, Naismith (pictured left) will oversee all of PCC’s financial and accounting operations, business planning and analysis and strategy development. She also will serve as a key strategic adviser to the CEO, leadership team and board of trustees, the company said.

Naismith brings strong experience in retailing to PCC. Most recently, she served as CFO for nearly two-and-a-half years at cookware and dining retail chain Sur La Table. Before that, she spent more than two years as CFO of Microsoft’s retail stores, nearly 11 years as vice president of finance at Williams Sonoma and over 12 years at Gap Inc., most recently as senior director of finance.

“I’ve always admired PCC for its quality as well as focus on the triple bottom line,” Naismith said in a statement. “I am excited to join such a purpose-driven company where I can combine my professional and personal passions. It is a privilege to deeply align with the values of your business, and I look forward to collaborating with our staff and community to help bring forward the financial vision for the co-op.”

Related:PCC Community Markets names Krishnan Srinivasan president and CEO

Susan Livingston-PCC Community Markets.jpgMeanwhile, Livingston (pictured left) takes on PCC’s newly created post of vice president of marketing purpose, which merges the co-op’s marketing and social/environmental responsibility teams to form a new department. In the role, she is charged with optimizing private-sector resources, systems and teams to deliver scaled social-impact solutions through PCC’s triple bottom line business strategy, which gauges performance based on profit, people and the planet.

Livingston joined PCC in April after almost 10 years at Whole Foods Market, most recently as global marketing director. Earlier in her career, she held marketing roles at Nike and served as program manager at the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

“The co-op’s staff, members and shoppers care deeply about community food systems, and they spend with intention to ensure that their grocery shopping aligns with their values,” Livingston commented. “We care as much as our community about what’s in the food we sell and how people, animals and the planet are impacted in the process of getting those products to us. I could not be more excited for the community building and storytelling opportunities ahead as PCC celebrates its 70th anniversary next year.”

Related:PCC Community Markets adds Shipt delivery

Michele Mallory-PCC Community Markets.jpgMallory (pictured left), as the vice president of IT, brings more than 20 years of technology experience across multiple industries to PCC. In her new post, she will direct all aspects of the planning, development and maintenance of PCC’s information systems, technologies and processes to support brick-and-mortar retail, online/digital and e-commerce, the co-op said. She came to PCC in January after over five years at insurer Farmers New World Life, most recently as head of IT. Prior to that, her career included technology roles at financial institution software provider Jack Henry & Associates, application engineering firm Intellectual Ventures, software providers Pegasus Solutions and at financial institutions such as Umpqua Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

“I am a strong believer that technology and data hold the key to innovation,” Mallory stated. “I am thrilled to be in an environment at PCC that places high importance on innovative thinking, collaboration and continuous improvement. I look forward to cultivating a solution-oriented IT strategy that combines the needs of our members and shoppers with PCC’s core values, vision and mission.”

PCC, which describes itself as the nation’s largest community-owned food market and a a certified organic retailer, operates 16 stores in Washington’s Puget Sound area. The co-op said it plans to open a new stores in Madison Valley.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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