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Lidl swaps out U.S. leaders: Report

The executives leading Lidl’s expansion to the U.S. have reportedly replaced its top two leaders with colleagues from the German discounter’s division in Ireland.

Jon Springer, Executive Editor

May 15, 2015

1 Min Read

The executives leading Lidl’s expansion to the U.S. have reportedly replaced its top two leaders with colleagues from the German discounter’s division in Ireland.

Reports in the German newspaper Lebensmittel Zeitung, citing confidential sources, said Kenneth McGrath and Kevin Proctor, who were assigned to explore Lidl’s entry to the U.S. a year ago, have been replaced by colleagues from Ireland, Brendan Proctor (no relation to Kevin) and Gareth Reed. Proctor’s most recent role was CEO of Lidl Ireland and Reed led that division’s real estate strategy.

McGrath and Kenneth Proctor were also Lidl executives in Ireland. It was unclear whether they departed the company or were reassigned. The reports gave no reason for the change.

A spokeswoman for MGP Retail, which is leading Lidl’s U.S. expansion, declined to comment to SN’s inquiries. 

As reported previously in SN, Lidl is planning as many as 100 stores in the U.S. focusing on Mid-Atlantic states for a 2018 arrival.

About the Author

Jon Springer

Executive Editor

Jon Springer is executive editor of Winsight Grocery Business with responsibility for leading its digital news team. Jon has more than 20 years of experience covering consumer business and retail in New York, including more than 14 years at the Retail/Financial desk at Supermarket News. His previous experience includes covering consumer markets for KPMG’s Insiders; the U.S. beverage industry for Beverage Spectrum; and he was a Senior Editor covering commercial real estate and retail for the International Council of Shopping Centers. Jon began his career as a sports reporter and features editor for the Cecil Whig, a daily newspaper in Elkton, Md. Jon is also the author of two books on baseball. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English-Journalism from the University of Delaware. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. with his family.

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