WHO'S IN AND WHO'S OUT

The top ranks of the nation's food-retailing companies saw a lot of changes in 2005, as executives moved up, moved out, or moved on to other opportunities.

hairman. He succeeded John Shields, who stepped down.

Kroger, Cincinnati, named Geoffrey J. Covert to succeed Robert Hodge, who retired, as president of the Cincinnati-Dayton Division.

Penn Traffic, Syracuse, N.Y., named Robert B. Dimond executive vice president and chief financial officer. Dimond had been executive vice president, CFO and treasurer at Nash Finch. He replaced William B. Murphy, who was interim CFO.

Supervalu, Minneapolis, named Roger Davidson corporate senior vice president and chief operating officer, Retail Food Cos., a newly created position. He was senior vice president, grocery procurement, merchandising and store brands for H.E. Butt Grocery.

Sobeys, Stellarton, Nova Scotia, named Glenn Hynes executive vice president and chief development officer. He was executive vice president and CFO. Bruce Terry was named to succeed Hynes in his previous position.

Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., named Eduardo Castro-Wright executive vice president and COO of Wal-Mart Stores division. He had served as president and COO of Wal-Mart Mexico. Eduardo Solozano assumed Castro-Wright's position in Mexico.

Wegmans Food Markets, Rochester, N.Y., named Colleen Wegman president, succeeding her father Danny Wegman, who was promoted to CEO.

FEBRUARY

Daniel Bernard, CEO of Carrefour, the world's second-largest retailer, resigned. Jose Luis Duran, CFO, succeeded him. The company named former CEO of Marks & Spencer Luc Vandevelde non-executive chairman.

Associated Grocers of Maine, Gardiner, named Patrick Flannery president and CEO. Flannery, a former senior vice president of Oakhurst Dairy, succeeded Michael Westort, who resigned.

Niemann Foods, Quincy, Ill., named Rich Niemann Jr. CEO. He retained the title of president and succeeded his father, Rich Niemann Sr.

Bob Connolly, chief marketing officer, Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., retired.

MARCH

Brenda S. Tudor, CFO and director of Ingles Markets, Asheville, N.C., resigned as the company was undergoing an informal investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Peter Magowan, former chairman, president and CEO of Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif., resigned from Safeway's board of directors.

Robert B. Dimond resigned as executive vice president and CFO of Penn Traffic, Syracuse, N.Y. Randy P. Martin, the company's chief accounting officer, succeeded him.

APRIL

Thomas Coughlin, former vice chairman of Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., resigned from the company's board of directors amid an investigation into fraudulent use of expenses.

Unified Western Grocers, Los Angeles, named Lou Amen, president of Super A Foods, chairman. He succeeded Kevin Davis, chairman, president and CEO of Bristol Farms.

Meijer Stores, Grand Rapids, Mich., named Larry Zigerelli president. Zigerelli was senior vice president of the company. He succeeded Paul Boyer, who was named vice chairman and co-CEO with Hank Meijer.

Ingles Markets, Asheville, N.C., named Ronald B. Freeman CFO. Freeman, formerly CFO of Silver-Line Plastics, succeeded Brenda Tudor, who resigned.

Debra Jensen, CFO, Arden Group, Los Angeles, the parent of Gelson's Markets, resigned.

Gordy Farrington, president of Stillwater, Minn.-based Cub Foods' West Region, retired. Brian Huff, vice president of merchandising, was promoted to take Farrington's position.

MAY

Thomas P. Infusino, long-time chairman and CEO of Wakefern, Elizabeth, N.J., retired. Joseph S. Colalillo, Wakefern vice chairman and owner of ShopRite stores in Hunterdon County, N.J., succeeded him.

D'Agostino Supermarket, Larchmont, N.Y., named Nicholas D'Agostino III president and COO, a newly created position. He was vice president, corporate administration.

Food Marketing Institute named Jeff Noddle, chairman, president and CEO, Supervalu, Minneapolis, to a two-year term as chairman. He succeeded Liz Minyard, formerly co-chairman and co-CEO of Minyard Food Stores, Coppell, Texas.

Wild Oats, Boulder, Colo., named Robert B. Dimond senior vice president and CFO. He was vice president and CFO of Penn Traffic Syracuse. Dimond succeeded Edward Dunlap, who was named senior vice president of operations.

Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., promoted John Fleming to CMO. Fleming was president of Walmart.com. He succeeded Robert Connolly, who retired.

H.E. Butt Grocery, San Antonio, named Craig Boyan to the newly created post of chief strategic officer. He was manager of the New York office of Monitor Group, Boston.

IGA, Chicago, named former Hen Pantry executive Douglas Fritsch vice president and U.S. chief growth officer.

Marks & Spencer Group, London, named Terry Burns chairman, replacing Paul Myners, who resigned.

Hannu Ryhopponen resigned his position as CFO, Ahold, Zaandam, Netherlands, to become CFO at London-based Stona Enso, a paper and packaging firm.

JUNE

FreshDirect, New York, named Rick Braddock chairman. The former CEO of Priceline, the Internet travel site, succeeded founding shareholder Peter Ackerman, who remained as a member of the board.

Douglas W. Dougherty, CFO, Marsh Supermarkets, Indianapolis, resigned. Mark A. Varner, vice president and corporate controller, succeeded him.

C&S Wholesale Grocers, Keene, N.H., named Joe Caracappa, chief information officer and senior vice president of information technology. Caracappa previously served as CIO and senior vice president for Ann Taylor and as CIO and senior vice president of Footstar.

BJ's Wholesale Club, Natick, Mass., named Paul McDonough executive vice president and CFO. He succeeded Frank Forward, who was named to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief administrative officer.

Eileen Scott, CEO, and Frank Vitrano, president and CFO, both of Pathmark Stores, Carteret, N.J., resigned from the board of directors as part of the 40% investment in Pathmark by Yucaipa Cos., Los Angeles.

Supervalu, Minneapolis, named Mike Jackson president and COO. He had been executive vice president of Supervalu, and president of the company's distribution business. He succeeded Jeff Noddle, who remained chairman and chief executive officer.

JULY

Stew Leonard, Norwalk, Conn., named Chris Williams chief operating officer. Williams previously was senior vice president and general manager for the Connecticut division of Stop & Shop.

A&P, Montvale, N.J., named Eric Claus president and CEO. He was president of A&P Canada prior to the sale of the company to Metro, Montreal. Christian Haub, A&P's chairman and CEO, became executive chairman. Brian Piwek, A&P's president and COO, retired.

Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif., named Hank Cominiello president of the Eastern Division, a position he had held on an interim basis. He succeeded Karl Schroeder, who was named president of the Northern California division.

AUGUST

C&S Wholesale Grocers, Keene, N.H., promoted Mark Gross to co-president and named Ron Wright co-president and COO. Gross remained president of GU/Southern Family Markets, C&S' retail division. Wright remained president of S&S and president of ES3, the company's third-party logistics division.

B. Kevin Turner resigned as executive vice president of Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., and CEO of Sam's Club, to become COO of Microsoft Corp. C. Douglas McMillon, executive vice president of merchandising and replenishment, Sam's Club, was named to succeed Turner.

Knowlan's Super Markets, Vadnasis Heights, Minn., named Lauri Youngquist president and COO. She was CFO.

Bob Spengler, president and COO, Save Mart, Modesto, Calif., retired.

Nash Finch, Minneapolis, promoted Sarah W. Miller to senior vice president and CIO, a newly created title. Miller was vice president, business process & retail services.

John T. Standley was named CEO, Pathmark Stores, Carteret, N.J. He was CFO and chief administrative officer, Rite Aid. Standley succeeded Eileen Scott, who resigned.

SEPTEMBER

Thomas P. Haggai, chairman of IGA, Chicago, announced he would step down from his position by February 2006, and become non-executive chairman.

Odonna Mathews, vice president of consumer affairs, Giant Foods, Landover, Md., owned by Netherlands-based Ahold, retired. Andrea Astrachan, a member the consumer affairs department, succeeded her.

Brookshire Grocery Co., Tyler, Texas, named Marvin S. Massey Jr. CEO. He was executive vice president, CFO and secretary. The CEO position had not existed as part of the organization for the past four years. In addition, the company promoted Tim King to senior vice president, chief financial officer and controller, assuming Massey's previous responsibilities.

Bi-Lo/Bruno's, Mauldin, S.C., named Brian P. Carney executive vice president and CFO. He previously held the same title for fabric and craft retailer Jo-Ann Stores. He succeeded Steven Ortega, who resigned.

Harveys Supermarkets, Nashville, Ga., named Tom Robinson vice president and COO. He succeeded Benny Ensley, who retired. Robinson was vice president of retail operations at Food Lion, Harveys' sister chain under Delhaize America.

A&P, Montvale, N.J., named Brenda Galgano senior vice

president and CFO. She succeeded Mitchell P. Goldstein, who left the company. Galgano was corporate controller and senior vice president.

Food Lion, Salisbury, N.C., named Cathy Green COO. She was senior vice president of retail operations-north.

Ahold, Zaandam, Netherlands, named Dave McNally CIO. He was previously CIO for Ahold's U.S. Foodservice business. McNally succeeded Alex Gibbons, who left the company.

Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif., named Kelly Griffith to succeed Lyle Waterman as president of the chain's Portland, Ore., division. Griffith was corporate senior vice president, produce and floral.

OCTOBER

Robert P. Hermanns, president and CEO, Associated Grocers, Seattle, resigned. Ron Brake, chairman of AG's board of directors, succeeded him on an interim basis.

Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., named John Menzer vice chairman, Wal-Mart Stores U.S.A. He was vice president and CEO of Wal-Mart International. Mike Duke, who was president and CEO Wal-Mart Stores U.S.A. switched positions with Menzer by being named vice chairman Wal-Mart International. Eduardo Castro-Wright succeeded Duke as president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores U.S.A.

Ahold, Zaandam, Netherlands, named John Rishton CFO. He succeeded Hannu Ryopponen, who left Ahold to assume similar duties at Stona Enso. Rishton was CFO of British Airways.

Associated Grocers, Seattle, named John S. Runyan president, CEO and vice chairman of the board. He succeeded Robert P. Hermanns, who resigned. Runyan, a retired Fleming Co. executive, was a senior adviser to IGA, Chicago.

Kenneth Thompson, president of Waldbaum's, a banner of A&P, Montvale, N.J., reportedly left the company.

Mike Carter, president of A&P-owned Farmer Jack, Detroit, Mich., resigned.

Price Chopper Supermarkets, Schenectady, N.Y., named Richard Bauer chief information officer, succeeding Tom Nowak, who retired. Bauer was vice president and CIO, Unilever North America.

Steven Townsend, president and CEO, United Natural Foods, Dayville, Conn., resigned. Michael S. Funk, director, co-founder and former CEO, assumed Townsend's duties.

NOVEMBER

Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif., named Don Keprta president of Dominick's division, Chicago. He succeeded Bruce Everette, who was executive vice president responsible for the division. Keprta was vice president of retail support for Dominick's.

Joseph Saker, founder and chairman of Foodarama Supermarkets, Freehold, N.J., retired as an executive officer of the company.

DECEMBER

Brookshire Grocery Co., Tyler, Texas, named Brad Brookshire president, marketing group, and Mark Brookshire president, corporate development. The brothers swapped positions.

John Elbin, CFO and treasurer, Marsh Supermarkets, Indianapolis, resigned after the company put itself up for sale. Douglas W. Dougherty, senior vice president, CFO and treasurer, succeeded Elbin.

Larry Zigerelli, president of Meijer Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., resigned.