King Kullen Elects New Co-Chairman
BETHPAGE, N.Y. -- King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc. here said Friday that Ronald Conklin has been elected co-chairman. King Kullen's other co-chairman is Bernard D. Kennedy.
Conklin, a longtime board member, succeeds his late father-in-law, John B. Cullen, in the position. Cullen, who died in 2003, was the son of King Kullen founder Michael J. Cullen.
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According to Kennedy, Conklin's election as co-chairman is part of a larger transition plan that includes shifting the function of chief executive authority to the company's executive committee, which will now have direct line relationships with corporate administrative personnel and primary responsibility for strategic planning.
"Centering chief executive authority in the executive committee completes a two-decade executive management transition based on the principle of inclusive participation by family members," said Kennedy. "It provides continuity for this family-owned operation while reinforcing the corporate concepts of clear lines of responsibility and accountability. Additionally, having co-senior executive officers has been a customary practice at King Kullen since 1999."
In addition to Kennedy and Conklin, current members of the executive committee are Brian C. Cullen and J. Donald Kennedy, who also serve as co-president-c.o.o.'s of King Kullen) and Dr. Eugene Cullen Kennedy.
"In this day and age of mergers and corporate takeovers, King Kullen is proud to remain a family-run business," said Kennedy.
King Kullen operates 45 grocery stores, chiefly on Long Island, New York, and owns Wild by Nature, Inc., a natural foods operation with three stores on Long Island.
Conklin, a longtime board member, succeeds his late father-in-law, John B. Cullen, in the position. Cullen, who died in 2003, was the son of King Kullen founder Michael J. Cullen.
(Story continues below.)
According to Kennedy, Conklin's election as co-chairman is part of a larger transition plan that includes shifting the function of chief executive authority to the company's executive committee, which will now have direct line relationships with corporate administrative personnel and primary responsibility for strategic planning.
"Centering chief executive authority in the executive committee completes a two-decade executive management transition based on the principle of inclusive participation by family members," said Kennedy. "It provides continuity for this family-owned operation while reinforcing the corporate concepts of clear lines of responsibility and accountability. Additionally, having co-senior executive officers has been a customary practice at King Kullen since 1999."
In addition to Kennedy and Conklin, current members of the executive committee are Brian C. Cullen and J. Donald Kennedy, who also serve as co-president-c.o.o.'s of King Kullen) and Dr. Eugene Cullen Kennedy.
"In this day and age of mergers and corporate takeovers, King Kullen is proud to remain a family-run business," said Kennedy.
King Kullen operates 45 grocery stores, chiefly on Long Island, New York, and owns Wild by Nature, Inc., a natural foods operation with three stores on Long Island.