Safeway Names Mayes SVP, Gov’t Relations

Safeway, Inc. yesterday appointed 16-year veteran Jonathan Mayes to the position of SVP of government relations, public affairs, corporate social responsibility and philanthropy.

“Jonathan is an exceptional leader and has successfully represented the company and its stakeholders in his role as our key government affairs person,” said Larree Renda, EVP, chief strategist and administrative officer. “Certainly, he will bring the same level of excellence and commitment to these other functions that interact on a daily basis with our customers and communities.”

Mayes joined Safeway in 1994 as a senior attorney focused on employment law, business litigation and consumer protection matters. In 1996, he joined the company’s government relations team as a director and was promoted to VP of that function in 1999. In 2008, Mayes was named group VP of government relations in charge of the team of professionals that focuses on local, state and federal government matters in the geographies in which Safeway operates in the United States and Canada.

Before joining Safeway, Mayes was senior corporate counsel for Lucky Stores, and an attorney at Donahue Gallagher Woods, LLP. He’s on the executive committee and board of the California Grocers Association, and a member of the board of directors of the California Retailers Association. He formerly served as vice chairman of the board of trustees of Warner Pacific College, chairman of the board of Law Center For Families, president of the Charles Houston Bar Association, chairman of the Food Marketing Institute Government Relations Committee, chairman of the California Grocers Association Government Relations Committee, and board member of Bay Farm Community Church, where he currently serves as music director. Mayes has been honored by both the Bay Area Minority Bar Coalition and the Charles Houston Bar Association for his exemplary service to the legal community.

Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway operates 1,712 stores in the United States and western Canada, and had annual sales of $40.8 billion in 2009.