Grand Rapid, Michigan-based SpartanNash has appointed three new independent directors – Julien Mininberg, Jaymin Patel and Pamela Puryear, to the company’s board of directors, effective immediately.
“Since last summer, our board has undertaken a deliberate and thorough refreshment process, with the assistance of a leading executive search firm, to ensure the board continues to have the right combination of skills, experience and diversity to oversee value creation for shareholders,” said SpartanNash Board of Directors Chairman Douglas Hacker.
SpartanNash also announced that current board members Frank Gambino, Yvonne Jackson and Elizabeth Nickels will not be seeking reelection as directors. As a result, following the 2022 annual meeting, the SpartanNash Board will comprise nine directors, eight of whom are independent and five of whom have been appointed in the last four years.
“I would like to thank Frank, Yvonne and Beth for their tremendous contributions and years of service as directors of SpartanNash. Each of them has not only provided valuable insights and guidance during their tenure on the board, but more recently helped to provide stability and continuity throughout the pandemic and as we brought on a new management team to develop and implement a new strategy for the company. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors,” Hacker said.
“As we continue to execute our strategy, SpartanNash remains focused on our priorities of creating a People First culture, elevating execution, delivering the promise to transform our supply chain, acting on insights to optimize customer and product portfolios, and launching customer-centric, innovative solutions,” said SpartanNash President and CEO Tony Sarsam. “Along with the rest of the board, I look forward to benefiting from the experience and fresh perspectives Julien, Jaymin and Pamela offer as we work to deliver profitable growth and enhance the value we bring to our shareholders, associates, customers and other stakeholders.”
New Independent Directors
Julien Mininberg
Mininberg currently serves as CEO of Helen of Troy Limited, a global developer, marketer and distributor of consumer products. Prior to assuming that role in 2014, he served as CEO and president of Kaz Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Helen of Troy. Before joining Kaz, Mininberg spent 15 years at The Procter & Gamble Co., where he served an equal amount of time in the U.S. and Latin America in a variety of general management and marketing leadership roles.
“I am excited to join the board during this pivotal time in the company’s history. I look forward to leveraging my experience leading businesses, building brands and transforming organizations, as we work together toward achieving a vision in which customers say they can’t live without SpartanNash,” Mininberg said.
Jaymin Patel
Patel is president and CFO of Clarim Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company. In addition, he is the executive chairman of Cloud Agronomics Inc., a platform for soil carbon measurement using remote sensing technologies to underpin carbon credit offset markets.
From 2015 to 2018, Patel was CEO and director of Brightstar Corporation, a global wireless device services company owned by SoftBank at the time. He currently serves as an independent director of Bally’s Corp. and as a director of Clarim Acquisition Corp. Patel is also chairman of the foundation board of the Community College of Rhode Island.
“I am honored to have this opportunity to serve on the board during this transformative period for SpartanNash. With my supply chain and technology solutions expertise, I am eager to support the company as it continues to implement its network optimization program and build on its customer-focused innovation,” Patel said.
Pamela Puryear, Ph.D.
Puryear has a track record of driving value creation through her expertise in human capital management, organizational transformation, innovation and operational excellence. She most recently served as EVP and global chief human resources officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., a Fortune 20 global leader in retail pharmacy.
Puryear was honored as one of the 2021 “Elite 100” from Diversity Woman Magazine. She currently serves as an independent director of NextGen Healthcare Inc., Standard Motor Products Inc. and Rockley Photonics Holdings Ltd.
“It is with great enthusiasm that I join the board of SpartanNash as the company continues on its transformation journey. People are the foundation of any strong organization, and I look forward to contributing my expertise in human capital as the board and management build upon SpartanNash’s People First culture,” Puryear said.
For more information, visit spartannash.com.
