EXECUTIVE CHANGES: AG-SEATTLE'S HERMANNS RESIGNS AS CEO... AHOLD APPOINTS AIRLINE VETERAN RISHTON AS CFO

AG-SEATTLE'S HERMANNS RESIGNS AS CEO

re said last week it expects to name a new president and chief executive officer within the next couple of weeks following the resignation of Robert P. Hermanns. The company said Hermanns elected to leave the $850 million cooperative wholesaler late last month. Succeeding him on an interim basis is Ron Brake, chairman of AG's board of directors and owner of two Food 4 Less stores in Portland and Gresham, Ore. AG has been assessing its strategic options since January "to make sure we have a stable, secure place to buy groceries," Brake said.The company announced in July it expected to decide within 60 days whether to sell AG outright, form a partnership with another company through a merger or joint venture, or simply reinvest in the company as it now stands. That process is still under way, Brake told SN last week. Hermanns' resignation will not interfere with that process, he added. "We don't see any burps going forward, and we see this as an opportunity to take the company to the next level." Hermanns joined AG in July 2002 after two years as chief operating officer of Weis Markets, Sunbury, Pa. He spent most of his career with Lucky Stores in California and, after it was acquired by American Stores Co., he served as COO of the parent company.

AHOLD APPOINTS AIRLINE VETERAN RISHTON AS CFO

ZAANDAM, Netherlands -- Ahold here said last week it has named John Rishton chief financial officer, effective Jan. 1, 2006. He succeeds Hannu Ryopponen, who left Ahold as of Sept. 1 to assume similar duties at London-based paper and packaging firm Stona Enso. Rishton currently is CFO of British Airways. He will serve as acting CFO at Ahold from Jan. 1 until his appointment is approved by the company's board of directors at Ahold's annual meeting in May. Joost Sliepenbeek, Ahold's chief accounting officer, has been serving as interim CFO.