Food Lion Names Meg Ham President

Food Lion has appointed Meg Ham president, effective Nov. 1.

Previously the president of Bottom Dollar Food, Ham succeeds Beth Newlands Campbell, who the grocer said was leaving "for personal and professional reasons."

Kevin Holt, CEO of Delhaize America, noted: "I have full confidence in Meg to continue to lead Food Lion's transformation and to deliver on the company's Easy, Fresh and Affordable … You Can Count on Food Lion Every Day strategy to enhance the customer shopping experience. Meg has an extensive retail operations and merchandising background with a strong focus on the customer experience and associate engagement."

In her new role, Ham, who came to Delhaize America in 1988 and has held a variety of leadership roles at both Food Lion and its sister banner, Scarborough, Maine-based Hannaford, will lead all Food Lion banner operations, including strategic direction, financial performance, product assortment, pricing, customer service and marketing. She will continue to report to Holt.

Campbell joined Hannaford 27 years ago as a retail management trainee. During her time with Delhaize America, she held a range of leadership roles, from store manager to company president. "She has led significant improvements at Food Lion during the past two years, with a strong focus on enhancing the customer shopping experience and ensuring that Food Lion's communities can count on us through our Food Lion Feeds hunger relief efforts," said Holt.

Food Lion will continue to roll out its transformation strategy with 45 renovated stores opening Nov. 12 in the greater Greenville, N.C., market.

In other Delhaize America news, Gene Faller, VP of operations for Bottom Dollar Food, will take on leadership responsibilities for the banner, and JJ Fleeman, currently SVP of Food Lion Strategy, has been promoted to Delhaize America's chief strategy and development officer. Faller and Fleeman will both report to Holt.

Salisbury, N.C.-based Food Lion operates more than 1,100 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, employing more than 63,000 associates.