Mark McGowan, president of Stop & Shop has made the decision to leave the organization. McGowan will remain with Stop & Shop through year-end, at the company’s request, to ensure a seamless transition. Gordon Reid, president of Giant Food, will become president of Stop & Shop. Reid will begin transitioning to this new role in the coming weeks, and officially assume the role in late July. Ira Kress, senior vice president of operations for Giant Food, has been appointed as interim president of Giant Food.
"Mark McGowan has had a tremendous impact for the Ahold Delhaize USA brands, as well as the communities they serve, and we thank him for his 30 years of tireless service," said Kevin Holt, chief executive officer of Ahold Delhaize USA. "Under his leadership, Stop & Shop has built a strong foundation for transformation and expanded success that continues through our ‘Reimagine Stop & Shop’ initiative. As Mark transitions, I have full confidence that Gordon Reid is the right leader to continue this transformation by repositioning the business for future success and rebuilding customer loyalty.”
“It’s been an honor and privilege to lead the Stop & Shop brand," said McGowan. "I’m grateful for our associates who are incredibly dedicated to serving our customers every day, and I’m extremely proud of all that we have accomplished together. As Stop & Shop embarks on the next phase of its transformation, now is the right time for me to make this change. I look forward to working closely with Gordon and the entire team to ensure a seamless transition.”
Reid joined Giant Food, which has 165 stores in the greater Washington, DC, area, in 2013 and has more than 35 years of international retail experience, having served in a variety of management roles at Boots, A.S. Watson Group and The Dairy Farm Group before joining Giant Food. Reid is active in the community and serves as a member of the USO Washington-Baltimore Executive Board, Capital Area Food Bank Board and a member of the Partnership for a Healthier America. He holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, and a master’s degree in business administration from Nottingham University Business School in the United Kingdom.
“We are excited for Gordon to join the Stop & Shop brand,” said Holt. “Gordon is an excellent leader of people, with a strong focus on serving customers, engaging associates and supporting local communities. During his time at Giant Food, the brand has successfully grown sales and market share, and has strong associate engagement results.”
Both Reid and Kress will assume their new roles in late July.
