AHOLD SHUFFLES EXECS AT TOPS, GIANT

Mark Hamstra

CHANTILLY, Va. -- Ahold USA here last week said it restructured the management at some of its retail operations as part of the "final stages of the planned shared-services concept" to leverage costs at its various retail chains in the United States.

The executive changes primarily affect Tops Markets, Williamsville, N.Y., and Giant Food Stores, Carlisle, Pa., which have been integrating their operations for the past two years. The moves are not seen as related to the accounting woes at Ahold's U.S. Foodservice division, which Ahold earlier this year said overstated its net income by $500 million.

Frank Curci, president and chief executive officer, Tops Markets, Williamsville, N.Y., will leave that chain to become chief operating officer at Giant Food, Landover, Md., effective June 1. The COO post is newly created, a Giant spokesman told SN. Curci will report to Richard Baird, who remains president and CEO.

Tony Schiano, president and CEO, Giant-Carlisle, will assume those roles at the combined Tops/Giant-Carlisle organization. Schiano has held numerous posts at several Ahold divisions. Max Henderson, vice president of operations and merchandising, Giant-Carlisle, was named to the newly created post of executive vice president, general manager, Tops.

The consolidation at Tops and Giant-Carlisle parallels what Ahold is doing at Bi-Lo, Mauldin, S.C., and Bruno's, Birmingham, Ala. In January, Jim Demme, Bruno's former president and CEO, resigned as the company launched a 12 to 18-month process of integrating that company's back-office operations with those of Bi-Lo. Dean Cohagan succeeded Demme as president and CEO of Bruno's while continuing as president and CEO of Bi-Lo.

Other executive changes related to the Tops/Giant-Carlisle consolidation are:

Jeff Martin, senior vice president, perishable merchandising, Giant-Carlisle, will assume that role for both Giant-Carlisle and Tops;

Sal Baio, senior vice president, perishable sales and merchandising, Tops, will become senior vice president, sales and merchandising, Tops, overseeing all sales and marketing programs;

John Bussenger, senior vice president, human resources, Giant-Carlisle, was named executive vice president, human resources, for the combined Tops/Giant-Carlisle organization; and

Mike Sonberg, director, meat and seafood category management, Giant-Carlisle, was named vice president, operations and merchandising.