PG People

AG New England makes appointments

Associated Grocers of New England, the largest retailer-owned, wholesale grocery distribution center in New England, recently made several executive appointments. The company's board of directors elected Mike Bourgoine, s.v.p. of merchandising and logistics, to the newly created position of c.o.o. In his new role, Bourgoine will coordinate the activities of the executive team and oversee all day-to-day operations of AG New England and its subsidiaries, allowing president and c.e.o. Norman Turcotte to focus on strategic planning of the company's future. Bourgoine was formerly a partner in the Farm Fare supermarket group, which operates stores in New Hampshire and Vermont.

Other appointments at Manchester, N.H.-based AG New England include John Murphy, who joined the company as v.p. of logistics, and Steve Murphy, who was named s.v.p. of finance and administration with additional duties as treasurer. Murphy, a 15-year veteran of AG New England, replaces Dick Ennis, who has retired from the company after more than 20 years of service.

Kmart assembles merchandising team

Kmart Management Corp. is lining up a new merchandising team to help the retailer "reshape and differentiate" itself, according to president and c.e.o. Julian Day. Both Robert Atteberry and Joyce Dillon, division v.p.s for merchandising, have been promoted to v.p. and general merchandise manager. Meanwhile, Peter Whitsett, divisional v.p., merchandising food and consumables, will add the responsibility for drugstores to his duties. Atteberry, Dillion, and Whitsett will report to Bill Underwood, Kmart e.v.p., sourcing and global operations.

Kmart also has appointed Ed Barclay v.p. of asset protection, giving him responsibility for all aspects of asset protection, such as loss prevention, food safety, and corporate safety, for Kmart's store base, distribution centers, and headquarters facilities. Barclay was formerly v.p. of asset protection at Sears, Roebuck and Co. from 1993 to 2002. He held other loss prevention and internal audit positions at Saks Fifth Avenue, Furr's Supermarkets, and Montgomery Ward.

Winn-Dixie selects IT director

Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. has selected Gary B. Jones as its information technologies director, business solutions delivery, supporting central procurement, manufacturing, and distribution. He will report directly to Karen E. Salem, senior v.p. and c.i.o. Most recently, Jones served as Home Depot's director of merchandising process management in Atlanta. Before joining Home Depot in 1990, he served as a senior consulting manager with Accenture in Atlanta.

Save-A-Lot names v.p., general counsel

Nancy Santana has joined St. Louis-based Save-A-Lot, a subsidiary of Supervalu, as v.p., general counsel. In addition to managing the legal functions of Save-A-Lot and Deal$, Santana will oversee the company's outside counsel activities and will work closely with Supervalu's legal department. Prior to joining Save-A-Lot, Santana served as v.p., general counsel, and secretary to the board of directors for Petro Stopping Centers, a national truck stop chain.

IFT appoints e.v.p.

Chicago-based Institute of Food Technologists, a not-for-profit food science society, has appointed Barbara Byrd Keenan as e.v.p., replacing Daniel E. Weber, who announced his retirement in February. Keenan, who most recently served as president of the Community Associations Institute in Alexandria, Va., will fully assume the responsibilities of IFT's executive office on Aug. 7.

Market Basket founder dies

Telemachus Demoulas, founder of Tewksbury, Mass.-based Market Basket supermarket chain, has died. He was 82. Demoulas grew up in the Acre neighborhood of Lowell, Mass., working for his immigrant father's local grocery store. He and his brother, George, took over the store in 1975 and went on to expand the chain to 58 stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He was known for giving away millions of dollars in charity and for helping to revitalize his hometown neighborhood.