Michigan-based retail group Spartan Stores has announced the appointment of Dennis Eidson, currently the company’s executive vice president marketing and merchandising, to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief operating officer.

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In this new role, Eidson will lead the retailer’s marketing, merchandising, and retail operations for the entire network of 87 retail stores and independent distribution customers.
 
The new structure integrates oversight responsibility for enterprise-wide marketing and merchandising, and retail operations into a single position, the company said. It said the change would provide “comprehensive oversight of the company’s entire retail and distribution operations” and make for “more efficient and effective planning and strategy execution, and will help expedite the decision making process on critical retail functions”.


Simultaneously, the company announced that Alan Hartline, formerly vice president of Centre Store Merchandising, has been appointed to the newly created position of senior vice president of corporate merchandising. In the new position, Hartline will lead merchandising strategies for the company’s retail and distribution divisions. Brian Haaraoja also takes up a new position as vice president Centre Store Merchandising, reporting to Hartline.


Ted Adornato, executive vice president retail operations, and Alan Hartline will report directly to Eidson.
 
“The newly created positions and reporting structure will allow us to better accommodate our continued growth,” stated Craig C. Sturken, Spartan’s chairman, president and CEO. “Moreover, the changes will help streamline the critical strategic decision making process and provide a more fully-integrated management structure and oversight that incorporates all key elements of our business.”

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