Corporate Vision Issue 8

CORPORATE VISION / Issue 8 2018 5 NEWS , The Kroger Co. announces the promotion of Ken DeLuca to president of the Michigan divi- sion, effective on the 1st August 2018. On the 31st July, announced the promotion of Ken DeLuca to president of the Michigan division, effective on the 1st August 2018. Mr. DeLuca, currently the vice president of operations for the Dillons division, succeeds Scott Hays who was promoted to president of the Cincinnati/Dayton division earlier this month. “In his 30 years with the company, Ken has shown not only an aptitude for running a grocery business, but also a passion for connecting with our customers and our associates and creating an uplifting shopping experience in our stores,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO. “He is ready to lead our Michigan division to continued success, as we work together to deliver on our Restock Kroger plan.” Mr. DeLuca returns to the division where he began his Kroger career in 1988 as a store clerk. In 1990, after graduating from Wayne State University in Detroit, he began Kroger’s management training program and went on to hold multiple leadership positions in the Michigan division, including store manager, grocery co- ordinator, category management, labor relations manager, human resources director and operations district manager. In 2004, he moved to the Columbus division as operations district manager and in 2005 was promoted to retail operations vice president for the Dillons division. Mr. DeLuca was promoted to vice president of mer- chandising in 2008 and then to vice president of operations earlier this year. St Ives Group PLC announced that J Schwan will be appointed as the group’s CEO. Schwan has been with St Ives for three years, serving previously as founder and CEO of Solstice, the group’s largest strategic services business, and more recently as the group’s first chief digital officer. Schwan will take over for current CEO Matt Armitage, who will retire on the 3rd August 2018. Armitage will continue in his role until this date and will remain with the group for another 12 months as a special adviser to assist with the transition. “The Board is delighted to be able to appoint J as Matt’s successor,” said Richard Stillwell, chairman at St Ives. “He has unparalleled experience in delivering digitally based transformation services in a high-growth environment. Since January of this year, he has been the group’s chief digital officer, and his impact is already being felt.” Schwan founded the digital innovation firm Solstice in 2001, which now has offices in Chica- go, New York, and Buenos Aires and has been widely recognised for its growth, innovation, and outstanding culture. In the past year, Solstice was recognised as a Best Place to Work by Crain’s Chicago, one of the fastest growing firms in the Chicagoland area, and won the international Timmy award for Best Tech Work Culture. In 2015, St Ives acquired Solstice as part of a larger digital transformation effort. Schwan’s list of accolades includes membership in the Chicago Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, Crain’s Tech 50, and the University of Illinois College of Engineering Young Alumnus of the Year. “I am incredibly privileged to lead the next chapter of transformation and growth of the St Ives Group, a journey Matt started over eight years ago,” said Schwan. “I am excited to continue serving the St Ives team and the leadership of our fantastic businesses as we work to become a global leader in digital business transformation services.” Kroger Names Ken DeLuca Michigan Division President