Fresh Thyme Taps Roundy's, Schnucks Vets for C-Suite

Natural and organic grocer Fresh Thyme Farmers Market has added two to its executive team: Carol Okamato as CFO, and Mark Doiron as chief merchandising officer (CMO), both bringing extensive retail and grocery experience to help support the company’s rapid expansion goals.

“We are excited to have Carol and Mark join the Fresh Thyme family,” said Chris Sherrell, CEO of Downers Grove, Ill.-based Fresh Thyme. “They both bring with them extensive experience that will help align our processes to become more efficient, and support our continued growth and success.”

Okamato brings 14-plus years of experience in retail to her role, in which she will oversee accounting, financial planning and analysis, pricing, and information technology. Prior to joining the company, she was controller and, following Kroger’s acquisition, CFO of Milwaukee-based Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc. While there, she helped with the transition from a publicly traded entity to a subsidiary of the Cincinnati-based grocery giant. There and in other previous positions, her responsibilities included supply chain for warehouses and transportation, accounting, accounts payable, and risk management.

Doiron brings 30-plus years of experience in food and grocery to his role as CMO, in which he will be responsible for procurement, merchandising and supply chain. He also will oversee the brand’s nonperishables, distribution and marketing departments. Most recently, he was chief merchant and supply chain officer at St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets. He has also been president of a frozen food distribution company and chief supply officer at Salisbury, N.C.-based Delhaize America, and began his career with Scarborough, Maine-based Hannaford, where he worked his way up to the role of EVP of supply chain and merchandising.

Since its 2014 inception, Fresh Thyme has opened 62 stores throughout the Midwest, with 70 more planned for 2017. That growth has brought an expanded team and an anticipated 2,000 new hires at both the local and corporate level for 2017.