SpartanNash Names Chief Strategy Officer, Touting M&A Experience

SpartanNash has named Masiar Tayebi as the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based grocery retailer and distributor's chief strategy officer. 

Tayebi previously led global corporate strategy and business development for Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool Corp. At Whirlpool, Tayebi also was COO of Yummly, the online recipe platform, meal planner and grocery delivery service that Whirlpool acquired for an undisclosed amount in 2017. Before joining Whirlpool, Tayebi was an executive director at UBS, where he helped steer acquisitions and major organizational transformations, according to a SpartanNash news release.

At SpartanNash, Tayebi will be tasked with developing and executing corporate strategy initiatives and identifying and seizing growth opportunities, including those available through mergers and acquisitions. In his EVP and chief strategy officer role, Tayebi will report to SpartanNash President and CEO Tony Sarsam.

In the news release, Sarsam praised Tayebi's "track record of defining and executing strategies based on deep financial and strategic analyses," helping to create significant growth for Tayebi's previous companies. 

Tayebi's addition is the latest in a series of new hires for SpartanNash since Sarsam joined the company as CEO in September. Earlier this month, SpartanNash hired David Petko away from competitor C&S Wholesale Grocers as supply chain chief. The company also has named a new CFO and VP of fresh merchandising this year.