Delhaize Group, the Belgian international food retailer, which owns Food Lion, Hannaford, Bloom, Bottom Dollar and Sweetbay, late last month announced that Rick Anicetti, executive VP of Delhaize Group and CEO of Delhaize America Shared Services, has left the organization. Prior to that, Anicetti served as CEO of Food Lion, the company’s largest U.S. grocery unit since 2002. He began his grocery industry career at Hannaford in 1980.
Carol Herndon, currently senior VP-accounting and finance of Delhaize America, has been named chief administrative officer (CAO) of Delhaize America, reporting to Pierre-Olivier Beckers, president and CEO of Delhaize Group and of Delhaize America.
“I want to thank Rick for his significant contributions to the company, both as CEO of Food Lion, LLC and as CEO of Delhaize America Shared Services where he helped to lay strong foundations for Delhaize America’s further development,” said Beckers.
As CAO of Delhaize America, Carol Herndon will have oversight responsibilities for finance, information technology, legal and government relations, communications, and corporate development. “Carol will bring a wealth of experience and the strong leadership credentials she has earned during her long standing and successful career with the company to the newly created position of chief administrative officer of Delhaize America,” said Beckers.
Herndon joined Food Lion in 1989 and held various senior positions including executive VP of accounting and analysis and information technology for Food Lion, chief accounting officer for Delhaize America, chief financial officer and chief administrative officer of Food Lion and most recently as senior VP-accounting and finance of Delhaize America Shared Services. Before joining Food Lion, Herndon was a manager with Ernst & Young in Winston-Salem, NC. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a specialization in accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a CPA.
In related news, Ron Hodge, executive VP of Delhaize Group and CEO of Delhaize America Operations will add human resources for Delhaize America to his current responsibilities. Hodge will continue to report to Beckers and serve as member of Delhaize Group’s executive committee.