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Ahold Delhaize USA's Retail Business Services hires Rom Kosla as CIO

PepsiCo technology veteran takes over from retired Paul Scorza

Russell Redman

April 6, 2021

2 Min Read
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Coming over from PepsiCo, where he was CIO, Rom Kosla will oversee all aspects of IT for Ahold Delhaize’s U.S. businesses.Ahold Delhaize USA

Rom Kosla has joined Retail Business Services (RBS), the services arm of Ahold Delhaize USA, as executive vice president of IT and chief information officer.

Quincy, Mass.-based RBS said Tuesday that Kosla, who started at the company yesterday, will oversee all aspects of information technology for Ahold Delhaize’s U.S. businesses. In particular, he’s charged with delivering common systems and innovation that enable digital experiences in support of the omnichannel strategy of Ahold Delhaize USA’s brands, which include Stop & Shop, Giant Food, Giant/Martin’s, Food Lion and Hannaford, as well as the Peapod Digital Labs e-commerce unit.

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Kosla (left) takes the CIO reins from Paul Scorza, who retired from RBS at the end of 2020 after four years in the role.

“It is an honor for me to join Retail Business Services,” Kosla said in a statement. “We’re emerging from an unprecedented time for the food retail industry, and evolving consumer expectations continue to require new technologies, agile work styles and more. I look forward to working alongside my new team and across the organization to support Ahold Delhaize USA and its local brands to pave the way for the future of grocery retail IT.”

Kosla comes to RBS after more than 14 years at beverage and food giant PepsiCo, where most recently he served as senior vice president and CIO of corporate and enterprise solutions. In that post, he was responsible for all enterprise applications, digital sales and mobile solutions platforms, along with application security and enterprise development and operations globally.

His 25 years of IT experience also includes more than two years as a manager at Deloitte Consulting and over nine years at Nestlé, most recently as manager of SAP development and middleware.

Related:Ahold Delhaize’s RBS pilots UV disinfection robots

“Rom has two-and-a-half decades of global IT experience across all aspects of the industry, from development and applications to infrastructure and e-commerce,” stated RBS President Roger Wheeler. “He not only brings a depth of experience that will create strong IT foundations and strategies that support the brands’ omnichannel ambitions, but he is also a great leader of people with a proven track record of developing an inclusive culture, where associates are engaged and find purpose in their work. We look forward to leveraging this strong blend of expertise and leadership during a pivotal time for Retail Business Services and all the U.S. businesses, as we continue to transform for the future and meet the needs of connected customers.”

Related:Ahold Delhaize USA’s Paul Scorza to retire from Retail Business Services

Besides technology, RBS provides Ahold Delhaize USA retail banners with services and support in merchandising, marketing, private brands, store operations, pharmacy, sourcing, financial, communications, supply chain and other areas.

Read more about:

Ahold Delhaize USA

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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