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Albertsons Cos.’ Jim Donald to join Nordstrom board

Ex-Target chief merchant Mark Tritton also named as director of department store chain

Russell Redman

April 7, 2020

3 Min Read
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Nordstrom noted that Jim Donald's proven track record of leading large companies through complex and challenging environments is highly valued at this time.Nordstrom

Jim Donald, co-chairman of Albertsons Cos., and former Target Corp. chief merchant Mark Tritton have been named to the board of directors of upscale department store chain Nordstrom.

Plans call for Donald and Tritton, who currently is president and CEO of Bed Bath & Beyond, to stand for election to Nordstrom’s board at the Seattle-based company’s annual shareholders meeting on May 20. Upon election, they will serve one-year terms.

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Donald (left) has been co-chairman of Albertsons since late April of last year, when he was succeeded as president and CEO of the Boise, Idaho-based grocer by PepsiCo executive Vivek Sankaran. Donald joined Albertsons Cos. in March 2018 as president and COO and then in September 2018 was promoted to CEO, succeeding Bob Miller. He came to Albertsons from Extended Stay America, where he was CEO from 2012 to 2015. Before that, he served as president and CEO at Haggen Inc. from 2009 to 2011. Prior to that, he spent six years at Starbucks Corp., where he worked his way up from president of the North America Division to president and CEO.

Donald’s 47-year retail career began as a trainee in Florida at Publix Super Markets. He went to Albertsons in 1976 and worked his way up to become vice president of operations in Arizona. In 1991, he was recruited by Sam Walton to join Walmart to lead the development of its grocery business and Supercenter development. Donald left in 1994 to be the senior vice president of Safeway’s 130-store Eastern region, a position he held for two years. His first CEO role was at Pathmark Stores from 1996 through 2002, after which he joined Starbucks as chief executive.

Related:Albertsons Cos. tabs Pepsi’s Vivek Sankaran as CEO

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Tritton has served as president and CEO of Bed Bath & Beyond since last November, joining the housewares retailer from Minneapolis-based Target. He stepped down as Target’s chief merchandising officer in October and was succeeded by Christina Hennington and Jill Sando, as the company split the chief merchant role.

Tritton joined Target as executive vice president and chief merchandising officer in June 2016. The 30-year retail veteran in 2009 served as executive vice president and president of Nordstrom Product Group (NPG), Nordstrom’s private-label collection. In that role, he oversaw a $1.2 billion business across 55 brands and, under his leadership, the NPG business nearly doubled, Nordstrom noted. Before that, he held leadership roles at Timberland and Nike.

“We’re pleased to welcome both Jim and Mark to the Nordstrom board of directors. Their wealth of knowledge and experience in the retail sector will be invaluable as we look toward the future and how we can continue to evolve and improve the customer experience,” Nordstrom Chairman Brad Smith said in a statement. “We’re fortunate to be able to leverage Mar’'s previous brand, consumer behavior and operational experience at Nordstrom and as a leader with some of the world’s most respected brands. Jim’s proven track record of leading large companies through complex and challenging environments is also valued, especially during this unprecedented moment in time.”

Related:Target chief merchant Mark Tritton resigns

Nordstrom operates 380 stores in 40 states, including 116 full-line stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico; 248 Nordstrom Rack stores; three Jeffrey boutiques; two clearance stores; six Trunk Club clubhouses; and five Nordstrom Local service hubs.

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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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