Albertsons EVP Kelly Griffith Named USC Marshall’s Exec in Residence

The USC Marshall School of Business Food Industry Executive Program (FIEP) has named Kelly Griffith its 2016 Executive-in-Residence. Griffith is the EVP of western regional operations for Albertsons Cos.

“I am pleased and honored to be chosen as Executive-in-Residence at USC Marshall’s FIEP program,” said Griffith, who brings 35 years of industry experience. “As a graduate of FIEP myself, it is particularly gratifying to be asked to give back to this extraordinary program.”

The Executive-in-Residence, selected yearly, is tasked with providing leadership insights, guiding principles for success and his or her own career background to students in the school’s four-day executive program in both the spring and fall. This spring’s session will be held March 14-17 on the USC University Park campus in Los Angeles.

Griffith got his start at Safeway in 1980 and was assigned to corporate retail operations in 1999. The following year, he was elected VP of retail operations. When Alberstsons acquired Safeway last year, he held the title of EVP retail operations. He has a bachelor’s degree in business from Bellevue University and attended the USC Marshall Food Industry Executive Program in 1998. Griffith also completed the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) Retail Management Certificate program, where he currently is a board member of the association.

USC Marshall School of Business established the Food Industry Management Program in 1958, where students complete either a four-day Executive program or a semester-long Leadership program. The Leadership program is limited to 35 students and each student receives a full-tuition scholarship from WAFC.