People on the Move: Kroger, Murphy USA, J. Polep & Swisher

NATIONAL REPORT — Retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in the convenience store industry are only as good as their management teams and employees. In this special roundup, Convenience Store News runs down the most recent executive changes, new hires, promotions and people achievements happening in the industry. 

Haskel Thompson and Associates 

Haskel Thompson and Associates has hired convenience industry veteran Vickie Grimes as executive recruiter. In this position, Grimes is responsible for providing to clients the highest level of candidates sourcing and qualifying, according to the company. 

She joins Haskel Thompson and Associates with more than 17 years of management-level experience at companies such as Chevron Corp., ARCO and 7-Eleven Inc. For the past 16 years, she has been on the supplier side of the c-store industry as director of national accounts for several premier coffee suppliers including: Coffee Bean International, Boyd Coffee Co. and Java City Coffee.

Imperial Brown

Imperial Brown promoted Stacey Sewell to the newly created position of director of foodservice sales. Sewell, with 24 years of experience in the walk-in manufacturing industry, will plan strategy for Imperial Brown’s walk-in sales that relate to the foodservice industry, such as restaurants, schools, hospitals and others.

She previously served as a regional sales manager for the past seven years, supervising sales in 10 states, managing three rep groups and a district manager. In her new position, she will supervise all outside sales and reps’ efforts in the foodservice division and report to the vice president of sales and marketing.

J. Polep Distribution Services

Sarah Binney has been promoted to director of foodservice at J. Polep Distribution Services. She joined the company in 1982 and most recently served as assistant director of foodservice.

Binney's responsibilities in her new role will include implementing and monitoring all foodservice products and programs, maintaining stocks, and sourcing and sampling new foodservice items and concepts.

The Kroger Co. 

The Kroger Co. promoted Angel Colón to senior director of diversity. He has been serving as the company's director of multicultural development for merchandising since 2008.

Colón succeeds Rueben Shaffer, who retired at the end of March, as Kroger's head of diversity and assumes the responsibilities for the company's strong supplier diversity program. 

He has held a variety of leadership roles in the grocery industry for 27 years, including product management, direct store delivery merchandising, category management, promotions, sales leadership, broker management, regional marketing, customer marketing and ethnic marketing. Colón joined Kroger in 2008 in his current role, where he established the company's Multicultural Department and strategic direction. He was also a founding member of the KEPASA Associate Resource Group at Kroger's general office, which is an affinity group that empowers, supports and advocates for Hispanic and Latino associates.

Murphy USA Inc.

Daryl Schofield has joined Murphy USA as executive vice president, fuels. He has overall responsibility for the entire fuels value chain and fuels organization for the company.  

Schofield comes to Murphy USA from Tesoro Corp. where he was senior vice president of Tesoro's commercial business, responsible for the commercial optimization and monetization of their integrated value chains across refining, logistics and marketing. He also held senior commercial roles at Talisman Energy and BP International and spent more than 12 years in investment banking early in his career. 

In addition, Marn K. Cheng, senior vice president, retail operations support, resigned from the company effective April 30. A 17-year veteran at Murphy USA, Cheng held various leadership roles within the operations team. He is resigning for personal reasons and plans to spend more time with family in both Malaysia and the United States.

Society Insurance 

Society Insurance announced Dina S. Schultz has taken on the role of senior vice president and chief operating officer (COO). Schultz brings more than 30 years in business and leadership expertise to the position, with nearly 17 years of executive-level background in the insurance industry. Prior to joining Society in 2012, Schultz was the COO of Missouri Employers Mutual.

Swisher International

Swisher International expanded its international sales team to include Stephan Qarimi as an international market manager and director of travel retail. He will focus on marketing Swisher products that are currently distributed in more than 60 countries as part of the company’s global vision.
 
Prior to joining Swisher International, Qarimi served as international sales and marketing manager for Royal Agio Cigars for more than 11 years where he was responsible for multiple markets, including North America.

In addition, Swisher appointed Bill Dunn to vice president, industry relations. Formerly vice president of field sales, Dunn has held more than 10 different positions of increasing responsibility within the organization spanning a 35-year career.

In this newly created position, Dunn will continue his work representing Swisher on several industry boards and his work with Swisher's key accounts and customers. 

The Topps Co. Inc.

The Topps Co. Inc. promoted Tony Jacobs to president of Topps' Global Confectionery Brands Division. In his new position, Jacobs will continue to focus on the advancement and evolution of Topps' Bazooka Candy Brands global confectionery portfolio. He continues to report directly to Michael Brandstaedter, president and CEO of The Topps Co.

Preceding this promotion, Jacobs held the title of global general manager, Topps' Confectionery since March 2013. Prior to joining Topps, Jacobs worked for more than a decade in marketing roles at Nabisco, Unilever and The Dr Pepper Snapple Group.

Jacobs has been an active member of the National Confectioners Association, serving on the board of trustees for the past three years, and is currently chairman of the association's Political Action Committee. 

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