Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Companies has named Jennifer Saenz as EVP, chief merchandising officer, effective July 12. Saenz will be responsible for all areas of merchandising within the company, including Own Brands.
Saenz also will be responsible for further strengthening the company’s relationships with its brand partners. She will join the company’s senior leadership team and report to Vivek Sankaran, president and CEO.
“We’re excited to welcome Jennifer to the Albertsons team,” said Sankaran. “A commitment to serving our customers with a broad and differentiated assortment of products is a key aspect of our transformation strategy. Jennifer’s extensive global industry experience and proven track record of driving growth through marketing, analytics and product innovation, grounded in a deep understanding of the consumer, will allow her to make significant contributions to our business and elevate the Albertsons brand for our customers, brand partners and associates.”
Saenz, 43, has more than 15 years of experience in the consumer packaged goods sector, holding roles of increasing responsibility within PepsiCo since 2005. Since 2019, Saenz has served as global chief marketing officer and president of global foods, with responsibility for the $30 billion PepsiCo Foods portfolio.
From 2015-19, Saenz served as SVP and CMO of PepsiCo Foods North America, where she accelerated growth and drove innovation for the $16 billion snacking portfolio. From 2009-15, she held a number of brand and customer marketing positions within Frito-Lay.
“I am honored to join Albertsons, and to work with Vivek and the company’s talented management team,” said Saenz. “Albertsons is undertaking a transformation that is further strengthening its position as an industry leader focused on deepening its relationship with customers. I am excited to leverage my experience and partner with our vendors to continue providing great products and great value to our customers.”
Saenz graduated from The Goizueta School of Business at Emory University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and received an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She has been recognized for her professional accomplishments through a number of awards, including Fast Company’s Most Creative People in 2018, Brand Innovators’ Top 100 Women in Marketing in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and AdWeek’s Brand Genius Award in 2017.
Albertsons Cos. is a food and drug retailer that operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia with more than 20 banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lovers Market.
