SN Year in Review 2007: Top-Level Movers and Shakers

Some of the new leadership changes made at various food distribution companies in 2007

Food Marketing Institute, Arlington, Va., named Steve Smith, president and chief executive officer, K-VA-T Food Stores, Abingdon, Va., FMI chairman.
FreshDirect, New York, named Steve Michaelson president and CEO. He succeeded Dean Furbush as CEO.
WinCo Foods, Boise, Idaho, named Steven L. Goddard president and CEO. He succeeded William D. Long as CEO, who retired.
No Frills, Omaha, Neb., promoted Fred Witecy to president. He succeeded Rich Juro, who remained chairman and CEO.

Lone Star Funds, Dallas, named Brian Hotarek president and CEO of Bi-Lo Holdings, Greenville, S.C., which the private equity company owns.
Spartan Stores, Grand Rapids, Mich., named Dennis Eidson executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Brookshire Brothers, Lufkin, Texas, named Jerry Johnson president and CEO. The company previously operated under an executive committee.

BJ's Wholesale Club, Natick, Mass., elected Herb Zarkin president and CEO. He was interim CEO and retained his position as chairman of the company's board of directors.
Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., named Carter Cast head of U.S. business strategy, a newly created post. Raul Vasquez succeeded Cast as president and CEO of Walmart.com.

Dollar Tree Stores, Chesapeake, Va., named Gary Philbin COO.
K.V. Mart Co., Carson, Calif., named Vincent Alvarado executive vice president, COO. He succeeded Phil Gentile, who retired.
Wal-Mart Stores appointed Bill Simon COO, Wal-Mart Stores division.
Save-A-Lot, St. Louis, appointed Mark Goodman executive vice president and COO.

The Western Association of Food Chains, Pasadena, Calif., named Carole Christianson executive vice president. She succeeded Ed Hill.
Penn Traffic Co., Syracuse, N.Y., appointed Tod C. Nestor senior vice president and chief financial officer. He succeeded Ben Jones, who worked for an outside firm providing financial services to the company.

Sobeys, Stellarton, Nova Scotia, named Francois Vimard CFO. He succeeded Bruce Terry, who resigned to pursue other interests.
Marsh Supermarkets, Indianapolis, named Robert J. Riesbeck CFO. He succeeded Terry Huser, who held the position on an interim basis.

Central Grocers, Franklin Park, Ill., named Jim Denges president and CEO. He succeeded Joseph Caccamo, who retired.
Brookshire Grocery Co., Tyler, Texas, named Rick Rayford CEO. He succeeded Marvin Massey, who will retire next year.
Rite Aid, Camp Hill, Pa., named Robert J. Easley, long-time H.E. Butt Grocery Co. executive, COO.

Publix Super Markets, Lakeland, Fla., said its president, Ed Crenshaw, will assume the CEO title when CEO Charlie Jenkins Jr. retires on March 29, 2008. Jenkins, who is expected to assume the role of Publix chairman upon his retirement, remained on the board of directors.

IGA, Chicago, said John Collins will be named vice president of finance when Bob Grottke, CFO, retires on Jan. 1, 2008.
Ahold, Amsterdam, named John Rishton president and CEO. He was named interim president and CEO following the resignation of Anders Moberg. Kimberly Ross replaced Rishton as CFO. She was deputy CFO.

Morgan Stanley Private Equity, New York, named Frank Curci CEO of Tops Markets, Williamsville, N.Y., after completing the purchase of the chain from Amsterdam-based Ahold for $310 million.
Wal-Mart Stores named David Cheesewright president and CEO of Wal-Mart Canada. The former COO of Wal-Mart's Asda chain will succeed Mario Pilozzi, who retires on Feb. 1, 2008.