AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market said it has promoted two of its regional presidents to executive vice presidents of operations, joining the company’s executive leadership team.
David Lannon, 46, most recently had been regional president of the Northern California region and previously had been president of the North Atlantic region, a regional vice president in the Northeast region, and store and department manager. He joined the company through its 1992 acquisition of the Bread & Circus chain.
Ken Meyer, 43, has been with Whole Foods for 17 years, most recently as regional president for the Mid-Atlantic region since 2005. Before that he was president of the South region, regional vice president of the Southwest region and a store manager. He previously was with Fresh Fields, which was acquired by Whole Foods in 1996.
The company’s 12 regional presidents will report to them.
“Ken and David are top flight, proven leaders who bring fresh operating experience at a time when we are stepping up our growth,” said Walter Robb, co-chief executive officer of Whole Foods. “They are young but seasoned, bringing their valuable perspective to the table immediately while contributing well into the future.”
In these newly created positions, Lannon and Meyer join Robb, John Mackey, Glenda Flanagan, A.C. Gallo and Jim Sud, expanding the executive team to seven. They will begin transitioning into their new roles over the next month, the company said. Lannon will reside in Northern California and Meyer in the Washington, D.C., area.