Albertsons Cos. has selected Jim Donald as its president and chief operating officer.
Donald most recently served as the CEO of hotel chain Extended Stay America, according to a news release. He also has been the CEO of Starbucks and earlier in his career had senior management roles at Albertsons, Safeway and Walmart.
Donald has served on the board of directors for Rite Aid, with which Albertsons has a merger pending.
“Jim Donald has built an exceptional career in retail,” Bob Miller, Albertsons chairman and CEO said in the release. “His knowledge of our company and industry is unmatched, and I know his contributions will be invaluable as we enter the next chapter of Albertsons Cos. We look forward to tapping his expertise in leading large consumer brands as we work every day to meet our customers' needs, both in-store and online.”
Donald will be responsible for overall operations of 2,300-plus retail locations and for the company's omnichannel growth.
“Having first worked at Albertsons 42 years ago, I have watched as an insider and from afar how their keen focus on customer service maintained a solid foundation for their team through the years,” Donald said in the release. “Their acquisitive nature combined with their recent innovation efforts and strong Own Brands portfolio have helped them to build an even stronger company today.”