Stater Bros. Markets Appoints New Finance VP

California-based Stater Bros. Markets announced that Irene Willins, previously senior controller for accounting and finance, has been promoted to VP of finance.

Willins will report to Dave Harris, who is the grocer's CFO, principal accounting officer and executive VP of finance. She will handle the day-to-day financial management responsibilities of the company that operates more than 170 stores in Southern California, including payroll, accounts payable, budgeting and forecasting, as well as store-level financial services.

“Irene’s promotion recognizes the important role she has played over the years in helping manage the financial operations of our company,” said Stater Bros. CEO Pete Van Helden in a statement. “I look forward to working with Irene in her role as an important contributor in projects critical to the company achieving its key objectives.”

Willins joined Stater Bros. Markets in 2000 as a financial analyst in the accounting-finance department. She has held various roles within the company, including assistant controller, and controller-retail operations. Willins has also been instrumental in leading multiple company initiatives such as the selection and implementation of a new human capital management software platform, the organization’s enterprise resource planning project, and deployment of new point of sale and sales audit processing systems.

Willins also serves on the board of directors for Stater Bros. Charities, the company’s non-profit charitable arm that is expanding its reach under a new partnership with Toyota Arena.

Stated Michael K. Krouse, President & CEO of Toyota Arena, about the new partnership, “It’s a natural fit – this is our community’s grocery store of choice, and the amazing Stater Bros. Charities provides non-profit organizations in our local region with support. We are on board to help as well.”

The Stater Bros. and Toyota Arena partnership will open up new opportunities to support the giving efforts of the Stater Bros. Charities.