SpartanNash Updates Its Board Lineup

Three new independent directors have joined the board of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based SpartanNash, culminating a process that the retailer and wholesaler began last summer to bring fresh perspective to its board lineup.

Julien Mininberg, Jaymin Patel and Pamela Puryear are SpartanNash's newest board members, the company announced Feb. 7. In a news release, board Chairman Douglas Hacker described SpartanNash's work with an executive search firm to identify new candidates as "a deliberate and thorough refreshment process ... to ensure the board continues to have the right combination of skills, experience and diversity to oversee value creation for shareholders." 

Mininberg is CEO of Helen of Troy Corp., the $2.1 billion health, home and beauty CPG powerhouse behind popular brands such as Vicks, Braun, OXO and Drybar. Puryear is former EVP and global chief human resources officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance and also a previous chief talent officer for Pfizer; SpartanNash touted Puryear's "strong track record of leading culture transformation." Patel serves as president and CFO of Clarim Acquisition Corp. and executive chairman of soil carbon measurement and management platform Cloud Agronomics.

See also: SpartanNash Seeks Fewer Fleet Miles for Lower Emissions in 2022

"As we continue to execute our strategy, SpartanNash remains focused on our priorities of creating a people first culture, elevating execution, delivering the promise to transform our supply chain, acting on insights to optimize customer and product portfolios, and launching customer-centric, innovative solutions," SpartanNash President and CEO Tony Sarsam said in a statement.

Current board members Frank Gambino, Yvonne Jackson and Elizabeth Nickels will not seek reelection, the company noted. After SpartanNash's 2022 annual meeting this spring, the company's board will consist of nine members, eight of whom are independent. 

Mininberg, a 30-year veteran of the CPB world, expressed enthusiasm for joining SpartanNash at a "pivotal time" for the company and as board members and company leaders "work together toward achieving a vision in which customers say they can’t live without SpartanNash."

Among SpartanNash's executive moves in the 17 months since Sarsam joined the company as CEO are the naming of a new CFO, chief marketing officer, chief strategy officer, chief supply chain officer and, most recently, SVP of merchandising.

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