Albertsons president and chief operating officer Jim Donald has been appointed president and chief executive officer of Albertsons Companies. Chairman and CEO Robert Miller remains as chairman of the Board.
Donald’s 47-year retail career began as a trainee in Florida with Publix Supermarkets. He joined Albertsons in 1976, which culminated in his being appointed vice president of operations in Arizona. In 1991, he was recruited by Sam Walton to join Walmart to lead the development of its grocery business and Superstore concept. Donald held major positions at Safeway and Pathmark Stores, before he was appointed to serve as president and CEO of Starbucks in 2002, where he lead the company through five straight years of 20-percent-plus earnings increases each year.