Ahold USA Names EVP, Human Resources

Ahold USA has appointed Kathy Russello EVP of human resources. Reporting to Carl Schlicker, COO of Carlisle, Pa.-based Ahold USA, Russello will oversee the company’s HR support function and foster a culture of people development and growth. The HR organizations within the local retail divisions of Ahold USA -- Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant-Carlisle and Giant-Landover -- will continue to run all aspects of human resources in their respective divisions, including the stores.

An industry veteran with more than 30 years of human resource experience, Russello (left) began her career with Mayfair Supermarkets in Elizabeth, N.J., in store operations and decided early on to pursue a career in HR, rising through the ranks to her present position. She came to Ahold in 1995 and provided HR support for the New York division for both Edwards and Stop and Shop. Russello’s most recent role was SVP of human resource delivery for Ahold USA. The company is currently looking for a successor to fill the position.

According to Schlicker, Russello “is passionate about the retail supermarket business and is a strong advocate for people, who are the heart of our business, and their ongoing development and growth.”

Ahold USA is part of Ahold, an Amsterdam-based international food retailing group that operates supermarkets in the United States and Europe. Ahold USA operates more than 750 supermarkets with about 115,000 associates in 14 states and the District of Columbia, along with Skokie, Ill.-based e-commerce grocery shopping/delivery service Peapod.