Hirz Named Smart & Final President 2010-04-08

ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

LOS ANGELES — Smart & Final here said it has named Dave Hirz as president of the company. That post has been vacant for three years — since Apollo Management acquired Smart & Final from French-based Casino. The chain's last president was Etienne Snollaerts.

At Smart & Final Hirz will be the No. 2 person in the company, a spokesman told SN — behind George Golleher, who continues as chairman and chief executive officer.

Hirz will be responsible for overseeing all Smart & Final operations and many corporate functions that support all the company's divisions, including Cash & Carry Stores and Henry's. However, those two divisions will continue to operate with their own presidents, who will continue to report to Golleher, the spokesman said.

Hirz resigned his post as president of Food 4 Less, a Kroger subsidiary, to move to Smart & Final, effective April 7. Golleher was one of the founders of Food 4 Less in Southern California and served as chairman of Ralphs after Ralphs acquired Food 4 Less — until Kroger acquired it in 1999.

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