Executive moves: SpartanNash announces a new CIO; Shipt adds a CMO and chief product officer

SpartanNash on Monday announced the promotion of Masiar Tayebit to EVP, chief strategy and information officer, while delivery platform Shipt said it has hired Alia Kemet as chief marketing officer and promoted Smrutha Ipparthi to chief product officer.

At Grand Rapids, Michigan-based SpartanNash, Tayebi was promoted from EVP, chief strategy officer to his new post. He joined the company in April 2021.

Masiar Tayebi, SpartanNash chief strategy and information officer / Photo courtesy: SpartanNash

“SpartanNash is more focused than ever on being the most customer-focused, innovative food solutions company,” CEO Tony Sarsam said in a statement. “Our innovation through technology goes hand-in-hand with the overall strategy of the company, making Masiar a natural leader for the IT function moving forward. He brings more than two decades of experience connecting strategy, technology, innovation and execution to drive growth and transformational change.”

Tayebi previously served as global head of corporate strategy and business development for Whirlpool Corporation. He also served as COO at Yummly, a grocery delivery platform owned by Whirlpool. While there, he tripled users to 23 million.

SpartanNash is a distributor, wholesaler and retailer with 147 supermarkets.

Birmingham, Alabama-based Shipt on Monday said it is updating its leadership ranks as it “continues to strategically evolve beyond its traditional marketplace offering.”

"As we move into the next era of our business, Alia and Smrutha will bring incredible industry expertise to our team," Shipt CEO Kamau Witherspoon said in a statement. "Their collective experience and success in driving businesses forward in new and creative ways will be instrumental as we continue to evolve to meet the needs of our customers, partners, drivers and shoppers."

Kemet, who joins the company next month, will oversee brand, creative, consumer insights and growth marketing. She has held previous posts at Whole Foods Market, McCormick & Company and IKEA.

Alia Kemet, Shipt CMO / Photo courtesy: Shipt

“I’ve admired the company’s commitment to innovation, which is rooted in creating exceptional experiences and celebrating every step of the delivery journey,” she said in a statement.

Ipparthi, who began work with Shipt last year, was most recently VP of engineering. In her new role, she will oversee Shipt’s product design teams. She has worked for MGM Resorts, Macy’s and Arteza.

Smrutha Ipparthi, chief product officer at Shipt / Photo courtesy: Shipt

“I’ve had the chance to work alongside some of the brightest minds in tech during my first 18 months at Shipt and I couldn’t be more excited to continue my journey,” Ipparthi said in a statement.