EXECUTIVE CHANGES: GROCERY OUTLET NAMES READ, LINDBERG CO-CEOS...PATHMARK TAPS BARNETT AS MERCHANDISING SR. VP...GIANT FOOD STORES PROMOTES EISWERT, GRIFFIN...FORMER AHOLD HR EXECUTIVE JOINS POSTAL SERVICE...MASS CONNECTIONS HIRES FORMER RALPHS VP STRETCH

GROCERY OUTLET NAMES READ, LINDBERG CO-CEOS

id it has appointed MacGregor Read, former vice president of real estate and construction, and Eric Lindberg, former vice president of purchasing, as co-chief executive officers, effective immediately. Read and Lindberg are responsible for driving the company's future business strategies while working with Bob Tiernan, president and chief operating officer, to oversee the company's day-to-day operations. Read and Lindberg succeed Steven Read, who is now executive chairman of the board. Both co-CEOs continue to be responsible for their former positions until successors are named. Grocery Outlet is an extreme-value retailer with 124 stores in six Western states and Hawaii.

PATHMARK TAPS BARNETT AS MERCHANDISING SR. VP

CARTERET, N.J. - Pathmark Stores here announced it hired Mark Barnett as senior vice president of nonperishable merchandising, overseeing grocery, nonfood, pharmacy, dairy, and frozens. Barnett came from Bashas', where he was senior vice president of sales and merchandising. He will report to Ken Martindale, Pathmark's co-president and chief merchandising and marketing officer.

GIANT FOOD STORES PROMOTES EISWERT, GRIFFIN

CARLISLE, Pa. - Giant Food Stores here has announced the promotion of Sharon Eiswert to director of consumer research and Jerry Griffin to director of customer relationship marketing. Both will report to Erik Keptner, vice president, consumer insights and sales development. Eiswert is now responsible for anticipating strategic consumer research needs and utilizing research findings to support the business. She most recently was senior manager of consumer research. Griffin is now responsible for evaluating customer performance, identifying opportunities and developing strategic card marketing. He most recently was senior manager of customer relationship management and analysis.

FORMER AHOLD HR EXECUTIVE JOINS POSTAL SERVICE

WASHINGTON - Deborah Giannoni-Jackson, former vice president of human resources for Amsterdam-based Ahold, has been named vice president, employee resource management, for the U.S. Postal Service here. In her new position, Giannoni-Jackson will be responsible for organizational structure and job design. Giannoni-Jackson succeeds DeWitt Harris, who retired last month after 40 years with the Postal Service.

MASS CONNECTIONS HIRES FORMER RALPHS VP STRETCH

CERRITOS, Calif. - Dave Stretch, former vice president of financial planning and accounting for Ralphs Grocery, a division of Kroger, Cincinnati, has joined retail marketing firm Mass Connections here as vice president of finance. He succeeds Julene Alicia, who has relocated to Texas after 18 years in the position. Stretch begins at Mass Connections on March 17.