Conagra Brands has appointed John Brase as president and CEO, effective June 1. Brase, who will also join the company’s board of directors, succeeds Sean Connolly, who is stepping down after more than a decade leading the Chicago-based food company. Brase most recently served as president and COO of The J.M. Smucker Co., where he […]
Category: Executive News
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, Hy-Vee, Midwest, News
Hy-Vee Mourns Loss Of First Female President
Donna Tweeten, a marketing executive who became Hy-Vee’s first female president and spent decades shaping the Midwestern grocer into a nationally recognized brand, died April 8. She had recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Tweeten retired from her role as president in January 2025 but remained with Hy-Vee as a consultant up until […]
Posted inExecutive News, Anniversary Issues, Feature, Featured News, Midwest, News, Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
Stewardship And Growth: Former AWG CEO Smith Reflects On Leading Through Change
As Associated Wholesale Grocers celebrates its centennial, former CEO David Smith looks back on his tenure with the perspective of a steward who sought to leave the cooperative stronger than he found it. Smith joined AWG in August 2003 as director of real estate. He stepped into the CEO role at the end of 2015, […]
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Ohio Grocers Association’s Mullins Leaves Legacy Of Fighting The Impossible
Kristin Mullins started at the Ohio Grocers Association on April 4, 1990, as a receptionist. She is leaving as its president and CEO – and, by her own account, she’s ready. “A 36-year run – I think I’m ready for something, quite frankly, a little less demanding, a little less stressful,” she said with a […]
Posted inExecutive News, Corporate Store News, Featured News, News, Southwest, Walmart
Walmart Appoints Cox As Chief Legal Officer
Walmart Inc. has appointed Erin Nealy Cox as EVP of global governance, chief legal officer and corporate secretary, effective April 13. Cox is coming from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where she served as a partner in the Government, Regulatory & Internal Investigations Practice Group since 2021. She previously served as the U.S. Attorney for the […]
Posted inExecutive News, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, National, News
AWG Taps Former Kroger Division Leader As COO
Associated Wholesale Grocers has appointed Joe Kelley as COO, effective May 4, overseeing merchandising, procurement, distribution, sales, marketing and division support center operations across AWG’s 33-state footprint. Kelley comes from Kroger, where he most recently served as SVP of retail divisions, leading 11 divisions across the central and western United States. His grocery career began […]
Posted inExecutive News, Dairy News, Featured News, Finance News, Midwest, News
Hiland Dairy Names Leibacher General Manager Of Dallas Operation
Hiland Dairy Foods Co. has promoted Mike Leibacher to general manager of its Dallas-Fort Worth operation, effective March 1. He replaces Ray Gibson, who retired after a 43-year career in the dairy industry. Gibson spent decades serving the Dallas-Fort Worth market. He began in 1982 as a route salesman with Borden Dairy, rose through a […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Executive News, Featured News, Finance News, News, West
Grocery Outlet Appoints Allen, Thornton To Board Of Directors
Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. has appointed Frances Allen and Felicia Thornton as independent directors, effective April 1. “Frances and Felicia bring strong grocery and retail operational experience and significant strategic insight to our board,” said Eric Lindberg, chairman of Grocery Outlet’s board of directors. “Frances is an accomplished leader of nationally recognized restaurant businesses with deep […]