BOISE, Idaho and PLEASANTON, Calif., Sept. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AB Acquisition LLC
(Albertsons) and Safeway Inc. (NYSE: SWY) announced today the new
senior leadership team and division leaders for the combined
company that will take effect upon the closing of the proposed
merger transaction, which is pending customary regulatory
approvals.
"We're drawing on the strong talent within both companies to
build an innovative, customer-focused and growth-driven company,"
said Safeway President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Edwards, who will serve as the combined
company's president and CEO. "We are confident in this team's
ability to build a great company that's positioned to win over the
long term by earning the loyalty of grocery shoppers in every
market we serve and delivering superior operational and financial
results."
After regulatory approval and closing of the transaction, the
new company will have the following leadership team:
- Bob Gordon, Executive Vice
President & General Counsel
- Shane Sampson, Executive Vice
President, Marketing & Merchandising
- Andy Scoggin, Executive Vice
President, Human Resources, Labor Relations, Public Affairs &
Government Affairs
- Jerry Tidwell, Executive Vice
President, Supply Chain & Manufacturing
- Lee Wilson, Executive Vice
President & Chief Administrative Officer
- Bob Dimond, Executive Vice
President & Chief Financial Officer, reporting to Mr.
Wilson
- Justin Ewing, Executive Vice
President, Corporate Development & Real Estate, reporting to
Mr. Wilson
- Barry Libenson, Interim
Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer, reporting
to Mr. Wilson. Mr. Libenson is expected to be with the new
company through March 2015, at which
time a successor will be named.
- Wayne Denningham, Executive Vice
President & Chief Operating Officer, South Region
- Justin Dye, Executive Vice
President & Chief Operating Officer, East Region
- Kelly Griffith, Executive Vice
President & Chief Operating Officer, North Region
The new company will be comprised of three regions and 14 retail
divisions. The company will keep the focus and financial
responsibility at the division level, but take full advantage of
the expertise, vision and core capabilities of the corporate
team. The 14 divisions will be supported by corporate offices
in Boise, ID, Pleasanton, CA, and Phoenix, AZ.
The division presidents for the new company, who will report to
the chief operating officer for their respective regions, will
be:
- Dennis Bassler, Portland
Division, North Region
- Paul McTavish, Denver Division,
North Region
- Susan Morris, Intermountain
Division, North Region
- Tom Schwilke, Northern
California Division, North Region
- Dan Valenzuela, Seattle
Division, North Region
- Shane Dorcheus, Southwest
Division, South Region
- Scott Hayes, Southern Division,
South Region
- Sidney Hopper, Houston Division,
South Region
- Lori Raya, Southern California
Division, South Region
- Robert Taylor, United Division,
South Region
- Steve Burnham, Eastern Division,
East Region
- Jim Perkins, Acme Division, East
Region
- Jim Rice, Shaw's Division, East
Region
- Mike Withers, Jewel-Osco
Division, East Region
No banner changes are planned.
"We know the best way to grow our business is to have the
highest quality fresh departments, lower prices, clean,
well-stocked stores and the best customer service in the market,"
said Bob Miller, Albertsons current
CEO, who will become Executive Chairman of the combined company
upon completion of the transaction. "Our teams will focus on
delivering what customers want locally, and we will give our store
teams more flexibility to make decisions that are right for their
neighborhoods. The division teams will have the
responsibility to have the right assortment for their markets."
Safeway shareholders approved the proposed merger agreement on
July 25, under which AB Acquisition
LLC, an affiliate of Albertsons, will acquire all outstanding
shares of Safeway. The transaction is under review by the
Federal Trade Commission and is expected to close in the fourth
quarter of this year, pending FTC approval.
About Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc., which operates
Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, and Carrs stores, is
a Fortune 100 company and one of the largest food and drug
retailers in the United States
with sales of $35.1 billion in 2013.
The company operates 1,331 stores in 20 states and the District of Columbia, 13 distribution centers
and 19 manufacturing plants, and employs approximately 138,000
employees. The company's common stock is traded on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY. For more information, please
visit www.Safeway.com.
About Albertsons
Established in 2006, AB Acquisition
LLC ("Albertsons"), which operates ACME, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco,
Lucky, Shaws, Star Market and Super
Saver, and stores under the United Family of stores, Amigos, Market
Street and United Supermarkets, is working to become the favorite
food and drug retailer in every market it serves. The company is
privately owned by Cerberus Capital Management, Kimco Realty
Corporation, Klaff Realty, Lubert-Adler Partners, and Schottenstein
Stores Corporation, and operates 1,060 stores and 14 distribution
centers in 29 states and employs approximately 115,000 associates.
For more information, please visit www.Albertsons.com.
Media Contacts:
Christine
Wilcox
christine.wilcox@albertsons.com | 208-395-4163
Brian Dowling
brian.dowling@safeway.com | 925-467-3787
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140919/147280
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140919/147279
SOURCE Safeway Inc.