PG People

Brookshire Grocery appoints c.e.o.

Tyler, Texas-based regional operator Brookshire Grocery Co. has named one of its longtime executives c.e.o. after spending several years without a chief. Marvin S. Massey Jr., who has been with the company for 21 years, most recently served as e.v.p.-c.f.o., secretary. As c.e.o. he will oversee all areas of the company: retail, distribution, administration, and manufacturing. He will also serve as chairman of the company's executive committee.

Now taking on the c.f.o. role is Tim King, who was most recently e.v.p.-controller.

The company's previous leadership structure, in which four members of the Brookshire family independently oversaw four corporate groups, remains in place, says spokesman Sam Anderson. These include Britt Brookshire as president of retail operations, Brad Brookshire as president of corporate development, Mark Brookshire as president of marketing, and Tim Brookshire as president of human resources/financial.

The company had gone without a c.e.o. for several years after its former chief, James Hardin, retired. Brookshire Grocery Co. operates 154 stores under the banners of Brookshire's, Super 1 Foods, and Olé Foods in an expansive market area now covering Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Safeway names s.v.p., corporate brands

Safeway, Inc. has tapped James D. White, a seasoned CPG exec, to assist with its private label program. As s.v.p., corporate brands, White will oversee the company's entire corporate brands organization, including its marketing, manufacturing, finance, and outside sales functions.

White, 44, comes to Safeway from the Gillette Co., where he spent three years as s.v.p. for business development, North America. Prior to his time with Gillette, White spent 15 years at Nestlé Purina PetCare, where he played a role in developing the company's private label brands across the food, mass, and specialty channels. Earlier in his career he was an executive at Coca-Cola Foods in various marketing and sales development positions in the mid-1980s.

"James brings a strong set of marketing and product development credentials that will give us a greater opportunity to grow our already strong private label program," says Brian Cornell, Safeway's e.v.p., c.m.o.

White will join Safeway shortly after the completion of Gillette's planned merger with Procter & Gamble.

Food Lion's Green moves up to c.o.o.

Cathy Green, an industry veteran who was recently named s.v.p. of retail operations at Salisbury, N.C.-based Food Lion, a division of Delhaize America, has moved even further up the corporate ladder—this time to the role of c.o.o. In her new position Green has responsibility for Food Lion's retail operations, merchandising, marketing, and distribution network. She reports to Food Lion president and c.e.o. Rick Anicetti, who formerly held the title of c.o.o.

Green came to Food Lion in 2002 from its sister supermarket chain Hannaford Bros., where she held the title of v.p. of fresh merchandising. She began her career at Hannaford as a part-time service clerk while attending high school and college. After completing the grocer's retail training program, Green went on to hold several management positions, including assistant store manager, perishables manager, and store manager. She has more than 20 years of experience in the retail grocery industry.

Also at Food Lion, Tammy DeBoer has been named v.p. of deli, bakery, and home meal solutions. She reports to Derrick Penick, s.v.p. of fresh merchandising and distribution. DeBoer previously served the company as director of private label brand development and director of regional merchandising. She came to Food Lion from Nash Finch Co., where she was v.p. of merchandising, pharmacy, marketing, and advertising. Prior to that, she worked as v.p. of sales for the Giant Food supermarket chain. She began her grocery career at Food Lion, where she served for 13 years, rising to the position of v.p. of dry merchandising.

Bi-Lo/Bruno's appoints C.F.O.

Mauldin, S.C.-based Bi-Lo/Bruno's Supermarkets has tapped Brian P. Carney, a financial executive who was most recently c.f.o. with fabric and craft retailer Jo-Ann Stores, as its new e.v.p. and c.f.o. Carney, 45, will report directly to president and c.e.o. Dean Cohagan.

"We are extremely fortunate to have Brian Carney joining our team," said Cohagan in a statement. "As a company that has recently transitioned from a publicly held to a private business, Brian's exceptional expertise will be key to our future success. We have positioned the company to grow, and will reinvest aggressively in our core markets and selectively acquire new stores. Brian will be an important member of the team in implementing our future growth strategy."

BJ's names E.V.P. of member insight and marketing

Natick, Mass.-based BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. has promoted Alison Gregg Corcoran to the newly created position of e.v.p. of member insight and marketing. In this role Corcoran will not only continue to head BJ's member insight and new club concepts initiatives, but will also take charge of all of the company's marketing operations, among them membership acquisition and retention programs.

Corcoran came to BJ's in 2003 as s.v.p., director of member insight, in which capacity she had the responsibility of implementing a member-centric business strategy. Before joining the retailer, Corcoran had 18 years of experience in brand management, product development, and market penetration strategies for food, retail, and CPG companies.

BJ's currently operates 159 BJ's Wholesale Clubs, two ProFoods Restaurant Supply clubs, and 85 gas stations.