Safeway promotes produce executives
Safeway promotes produce executives
A couple of Safeway Inc. executives with produce and floral experience have been promoted within the company's corporate structure.
Safeway has announced the promotion of Kelly Griffith, most recently president of the company's Portland division, to the position of president of perishables, replacing Des Hague, who held the post for about one year. Safeway announced that Mr. Hague was leaving the company to pursue other business opportunities.
Mr. Griffith joined Safeway 28 years ago in the Seattle division. After working his way through a range of retail store management assignments, he was promoted to Safeway's corporate retail operations team in 1999 and was made a vice president the following year. He was promoted to vice president of retail operations in the Seattle division in 2001, where he remained for three years.
In 2004, Mr. Griffith returned to the corporate office in Pleasanton, CA, as senior vice president of produce and floral. He was promoted to the position of Portland division president in 2005.
"Kelly's demonstrated ability to deliver exceptional results will serve him well in his new corporate assignment," Safeway Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Burd said in a company press release. "His previous experience on both the retail and perishable marketing side of our business make him a perfect fit for the job."
Steve Frisby, currently president of Safeway's Texas division, will replace Mr. Griffith as Portland division president. Mr. Frisby started with Safeway in 1972 as a clerk in the company's former Little Rock division, and has progressed through the retail ranks in three of the company's other operating divisions, including Portland.
Tom Schwilke, who is currently group vice president of produce and floral in the company's corporate headquarters, will be promoted to Texas division president. Mr. Schwilke began his career in 1982 in the company's Seattle division, where he advanced through a range of retail management positions. In 1998, Mr. Schwilke was promoted to district manager in the Northern California division, then joined the corporate team as a director and was later named a vice president. After serving as a vice president of retail operations at Vons in Southern California from 2001 to 2007, he returned to Pleasanton in his current produce position.
"Tom's energy and proven ability to get things done on both the marketing and retail side of the business make him well suited to his new duties in Texas," Mr. Burd said in the press release.
Safeway has not yet announced who will replace Mr. Schwilke as the corporate vice president in charge of produce and floral. A source familiar with Safeway's corporate structure predicted that a person from another department would be brought in to gain perishable experience.
Much as the firm has done with Messrs. Griffith and Schwilke, the source, who asked not to be named, said that Safeway often moves its potential leaders through various departments and positions to give them a broad experience as they move up the corporate ladder. The source said that it bodes well for the fresh produce industry that these two former produce vice presidents are rising in the company, as both men were well received in the produce industry and showed innovation and leadership.
Safeway has announced the promotion of Kelly Griffith, most recently president of the company's Portland division, to the position of president of perishables, replacing Des Hague, who held the post for about one year. Safeway announced that Mr. Hague was leaving the company to pursue other business opportunities.
Mr. Griffith joined Safeway 28 years ago in the Seattle division. After working his way through a range of retail store management assignments, he was promoted to Safeway's corporate retail operations team in 1999 and was made a vice president the following year. He was promoted to vice president of retail operations in the Seattle division in 2001, where he remained for three years.
In 2004, Mr. Griffith returned to the corporate office in Pleasanton, CA, as senior vice president of produce and floral. He was promoted to the position of Portland division president in 2005.
"Kelly's demonstrated ability to deliver exceptional results will serve him well in his new corporate assignment," Safeway Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Burd said in a company press release. "His previous experience on both the retail and perishable marketing side of our business make him a perfect fit for the job."
Steve Frisby, currently president of Safeway's Texas division, will replace Mr. Griffith as Portland division president. Mr. Frisby started with Safeway in 1972 as a clerk in the company's former Little Rock division, and has progressed through the retail ranks in three of the company's other operating divisions, including Portland.
Tom Schwilke, who is currently group vice president of produce and floral in the company's corporate headquarters, will be promoted to Texas division president. Mr. Schwilke began his career in 1982 in the company's Seattle division, where he advanced through a range of retail management positions. In 1998, Mr. Schwilke was promoted to district manager in the Northern California division, then joined the corporate team as a director and was later named a vice president. After serving as a vice president of retail operations at Vons in Southern California from 2001 to 2007, he returned to Pleasanton in his current produce position.
"Tom's energy and proven ability to get things done on both the marketing and retail side of the business make him well suited to his new duties in Texas," Mr. Burd said in the press release.
Safeway has not yet announced who will replace Mr. Schwilke as the corporate vice president in charge of produce and floral. A source familiar with Safeway's corporate structure predicted that a person from another department would be brought in to gain perishable experience.
Much as the firm has done with Messrs. Griffith and Schwilke, the source, who asked not to be named, said that Safeway often moves its potential leaders through various departments and positions to give them a broad experience as they move up the corporate ladder. The source said that it bodes well for the fresh produce industry that these two former produce vice presidents are rising in the company, as both men were well received in the produce industry and showed innovation and leadership.
