Gelson’s Markets has appointed John Barker as chief operations officer (COO) and Rick Williams as chief merchandising and marketing officer.
This move comes as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its leadership team and drive future growth.
“John and Rick bring decades of expertise and a deep understanding of the Southern California grocery market to Gelson’s,” said Ryan Adams, CEO and president of Gelson’s Markets.
“John is a leader who values people, builds teamwork and has exceptionally high standards, while Rick is known for fostering collaboration, inspiring high performance and leading teams through culture change. Their leadership will be pivotal as we continue to meet the evolving needs of our customers and navigate the dynamic retail environment. We welcome them to our team and look forward to their contributions.”
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Barker joins Gelson’s with 38 years of experience in operations, merchandising, marketing and change management. His most recent role was senior director of sales support for Southern California Albertsons, where he led a high-performing team across multiple departments, including asset protection, construction, maintenance and food safety. Committed to excellence and leadership development, Barker has participated in the Next Up Leadership Program, Leaderology and the USC Food Industry Executive Program.
Williams also brings 38 years of experience in the Southern California grocery retail industry to his new role. His career spans positions in store operations, merchandising and marketing, most recently serving as area VP of operations for Southern California Albertsons. A Retail Management Certified Professional graduate, he also has completed the USC Food Industry Executive Program and the McKinsey Executive Leadership Program.
