Last updated on March 3rd, 2023
The University of Southern California’s Marshall Food Industry Management program will honor Kevin Curry as its 2023 Executive of the Year.
Every year, the USC Executive of the Year award is presented to a food industry executive who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and commitment to education. Curry is a Food Industry Management Program graduate and a USC Marshall MBA Alumnus. He is also one of USC Marshall’s most valued partners.
As president of the Southern California Division of Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions, Curry will accept the award and serve as the keynote speaker at the April graduation banquet, which will celebrate the FIM class of 2023.
Curry began his career in 1978 with Alpha Beta Stores in Southern California. After graduating from Cal State Los Angeles with a bachelors in accounting, Curry held a variety of roles in operations, marketing and supply chain for Alpha Beta, Lucky Stores, Albertsons, Raley’s and Safeway. Curry moved back to Southern California in July 2018 as the VP and general manager of the Pavilions banner stores.
In 2020, Curry was promoted to president of the Southern California Division of Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions. Today, he leads more than 34,000 employees in Southern California. Curry also serves on the Western Association of Food Chains Advisory Council board and is a board member of City of Hope’s Southern California Food Industries Circle.
“Kevin has partnered with USC Marshall for the past 23 years to inspire and motivate future leaders for our industry,” said Cynthia McCloud, director of Marshall’s Food Industry Programs.
“We share a passion for encouraging those in our span of care to go back to school and complete or enhance their education journey so they are prepared to help their companies compete in this rapidly changing market.
Over the years, Curry has entrusted the USC FIM program with a number of his company’s future leaders. While participants arrive with their own sets of talents, experiences and backgrounds, all share a passion for the food industry.
“I am honored to receive this recognition alongside the 65th class of the USC Food Industry Management program. As a graduate of the class of 1990, I know first-hand the impact and value of the FIM program in developing future food industry leaders,” Curry said.
“Not only does the FIM program, in conjunction with the WAFC, deliver on the mission to ‘Advance the Food Industry through Education and Leadership,’ every student develops both personally and professionally from this experience. Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions have sent some of our key talent to participate in the program and they have returned as shining leaders in the industry. We are proud to support the USC FIM program.”
