Joe Kelley has resigned as president of the 220 store New England division of Stop & Shop, effective March 2, to pursue other career opportunies. He will be replaced on an interim basis by Don Sussman, Ahold USA’s current president of its Stop & Shop New York Metro division.
This marks the third change of division presidents since Ahold USA named James McCann COO in February 2013. Previously, Gordon Reid was named president of the company’s Giant/Landover division in November 2013 and Tom Lenkevich replaced Rick Herring in March 2014 as president of the retailer’s Giant/Carlisle unit.
Kelley joined Ahold USA in May 2012 when he was named president of the retailer’s Stop & Shop New England division replacing Mark McGowan, who is currently executive VP of both merchandising and store operations for the Carlisle, PA-based merchant, the largest supermarket chain in the Northeast.
Prior to joining Stop & Shop, Kelley was the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Marsh Supermarkets. Before working at Marsh, Kelley was the executive vice president for Price Chopper. He joined Price Chopper in 2005 as the vice president of sales, merchandising and marketing, and was promoted four times there over five years. Kelley has also held leadership roles at Bozzuto’s, Adams Hometown Markets in Connecticut, A&P and Purity Supreme.
Sussman, who was named president of Stop & Shop’s New York division in November 2011, started his career at Pathmark where he held a variety of roles, including assistant store manager, director of sales for the New York division, vice president of meat, and vice president of grocery. He will now have oversight of approximately 400 stores.
A native New Yorker, Sussman joined Stop & Shop in 1995, and over the years, has spent many years in leadership roles for Ahold USA in merchandising and marketing functions for Stop & Shop, Giant/Landover, and Ahold USA, including SVP of non-perishables, and EVP of merchandising and marketing. This year he served as the interim division president for the Giant/Landover division, and most recently, he held the position of EVP, Ahold USA supply chain.
