Albertsons Companies has appointed Meg Whitman, the former eBay and Hewlett-Packard CEO, to the newly created role of executive chair of its board of directors. With the appointment, Kim Fennebresque transitions from chair to lead independent director, and the board expands from 10 to 11 members.
Beyond leading the board, Whitman will serve as an operations and strategic advisor to CEO Susan Morris and her senior team. The Boise, Idaho-based grocer said Whitman’s experience will be particularly relevant as Morris streamlines the operating structure around AI technologies and a more consistent customer experience across stores and digital channels.
Morris, who took the helm of Albertsons in May 2025, announced sweeping changes in July 2026 that restructured the company’s 11 divisions into four regions after first-quarter identical sales declined, saying the results “underscored the need to move faster.”
The board also added McDonald’s technology chief Brian Rice in February, part of a deliberate buildout of digital and AI expertise at the governance level.
“Meg has a remarkable track record of helping companies strengthen execution, accelerate growth and create long-term value,” Morris said. “As we focus on moving faster and competing more effectively, Meg’s strategic judgment, operating discipline and technology expertise will be invaluable.”
Fennebresque added, “Meg is an ideal leader to join Albertsons’ Board of Directors. Her appointment underscores the board’s commitment to bring proven technology expertise and transformation leadership to all aspects of the business. Meg’s role as executive chair complements Susan’s leadership abilities as the company accelerates plans to compete and win.”
Whitman’s resumé
Whitman served as president and CEO of eBay from 1998 to 2008, as the company grew from $30 million to more than $8 billion in annual revenue. She led Hewlett-Packard’s turnaround from 2011 to 2018, including serving as CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise after the company’s split. More recently, she was CEO of entertainment startup Quibi and served as U.S. ambassador to Kenya from July 2022 until November 2024. Her board experience includes Procter & Gamble and General Motors, and she currently serves on the boards of CoreWeave, Motive Technologies and Fervo Energy.
“Albertsons has a rich history serving customers and communities across the country,” Whitman said. “Susan is a talented leader who has dedicated her career to the company. I am honored to work with her, the entire management team and my fellow directors as we build on the company’s strengths and deliver meaningful value for customers, associates, communities and shareholders.”
Albertsons operates 2,240 retail stores in 35 states and the District of Columbia under 22 banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb and Randalls.
Related: Albertsons Cuts 11 Divisions To 4 Regions, Centralizes Center Store Buying