Carl Schlicker officially took the post of chief operating officer of Ahold USA Retail this month, and the retailer made two additional executive announcements as it formulates its team moving forward. Schlicker, who replaces the recently retired COO Larry Benjamin, has served as CEO since November 2009
John Bussenger has been appointed to the newly established role of executive vice president and assistant to Schlicker.
Bhavdeep Singh has been named executive vice president of human resources, replacing Bussenger.
Singh brings more than 30 years of grocery retail experience to his position with Ahold USA, where he will oversee the company’s Human Resources and Labor Relations functions, in addition to fostering associate engagement. Most recently, Singh was chief executive officer for Fortis Healthcare in New Delhi, India, a leading health care provider in Asia and one of the largest private hospital operators in the world. Prior to Fortis, he
served as chief executive officer for Reliance Fresh, India’s largest chain of convenience-style grocery retailers.
Before relocating to India from the U.S., Singh spent several years in diverse leadership positions with The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P), including president of the company’s Super Fresh division as well as president of The Food Emporium and Super Food mart.
In his new role, Bussenger will continue to support Ahold USA’s overarching business strategy, acting as a liaison between company leadership, the executive committee and key stakeholders in driving strategic initiatives.
Bussenger has held a variety of leadership positions in his more than 30 years with Giant/Carlisle and the former Ahold-owned Edwards chain. Prior to his role with Ahold USA, Bussenger was executive vice president of human resources for Giant/Carlisle.
Schlicker takes the COO helm from the retiring Larry Benjamin. Prior to becoming Ahold USA Retail CEO, Schlicker had been CEO of the Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover division, a post he took in 2008. From February 2007 to his promotion, he was president and CEO of the Giant/Carlisle division. He joined the Carlisle based division of the company in 1998 and was promoted to executive vice president of sales and marketing in 2000.
Prior to joining the Ahold organization, Schlicker held positions with First National Supermarkets (later Edwards Super Stores, which was acquired by Ahold), Pathmark and at Acme Markets, where he began his career while in school.
Coming next month will be the departure of Amsterdam based Royal Ahold CEO John Rishton, who will become chief executive of Rolls Royce, based in his native England. Dick Boer, who is currently running the retailer’s Euopean platform, will take over for Rishton.
