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• The CBC reports that Galen Weston has stepped down as president of Canadian retailer Loblaw, though he will remain chair of the company's board, as well as CEO of Loblaw's parent company, George Weston Ltd.
He will be succeeded by Per Bank, most recently "CEO of Danish retail chain Salling Group A/S, which runs more than 1,700 supermarkets across three countries in Europe."
The CBC writes that "Loblaw says the leadership transition was planned in advance, and part of a 'global talent search' that began in August of last year, when chief operating officer Robert Sawyer announced he was stepping down … Weston has been president of Loblaw since 2021, when Sarah Davis retired from the job. He never assumed the CEO title, which remained vacant."
The story also notes that Weston's move out of the chain's presidency may alleviate some of the criticism of Loblaws, which took some hits because of increased profits during a time of consumer pain, especially since it was controlled by one of Canada's wealthiest families.
• Wakefern Food Corp., the nation’s largest retailer-owned cooperative, announced that it has hired Elena Kabasinskas, most recently senior vice president for Estée Lauder Companies' Global Transformation Office and Special Projects, to be its new group vice president, Strategy, Planning and Transformation.
Kabasinskas will report to Michael Day, who has been promoted to senior vice president, Strategy, Business Development and Architecture.
