dunnhumbyUSA Makes Changes in Senior Management

Look up the PowerRating of SWY and see how it has performed over the past week as well as the current proprietary PowerRating.

Oct 03, 2009 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- SWY | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- dunnhumbyUSA, a company in building sales and brand value for consumer goods and retail companies, announced changes in senior management and projects continued exponential growth through continued commitment to their work on Kroger's customer-focused strategy and increased focus on its global consumer packaged goods business.

The company said that Stuart Aitken has been hired as the company's Chief Operating Officer and will assume management of dunnhumbyUSA from CEO Simon Hay, who is departing Cincinnati to assume broader responsibilities with the company's London-based operations. Aitken brings a breadth and depth of marketing experience, particularly with loyalty programs to dunnhumbyUSA and Kroger's customer-focused strategy, through his previous role as Chief Marketing Officer of the arts and crafts retail chain Michael's Stores Inc. as well as various executive marketing positions held with grocery retail giant Safeway, Inc. Aitken started his position with dunnhumbyUSA in late August.

In addition, Gary Cofer joined the firm on September 1 as its Global Executive Vice President/ Manufacturer Practice Leader. Cofer brings over two decades of sales and general management experience with Procter & Gamble in North America, India and Asia, most recently as Vice President of Customer Business Development for North America, whose division included 5,000 employees and generated over $30 billion in annual sales. His role at dunnhumbyUSA will include the development of a global strategy for dunnhumbyUSA's Manufacturer clients, which spans more than 15 countries and 600 clients.

"I am proud to have led the first six years at dunnhumbyUSA and our partnership with The Kroger Co.," said Simon Hay, CEO of dunnhumbyUSA. "Our passion to put the customer first has helped our partner, our clients and ourselves grow our business. I am confident that Stuart will provide the inspiring leadership that dunnhumbyUSA and our amazingly talented people need to continue our growth and success. That said our CPG Clients are facing seismic shifts in the way they communicate with consumers and the data they collect. We need to continue to develop breakthrough strategies and Gary Cofer brings an impressive international leadership experience that will allow us to compete in the changing global marketplace."

dunnhumbyUSA is a joint venture with The Kroger Co. Through its partnership with The Kroger Co., particularly on the customer-focused strategy, dunnhumby has helped Kroger emphasize what matters most to customers - good prices, the shopping experience, the right products and people. Kroger CEO Dave Dillon continues to cite its partnership with dunnhumbyUSA as a strategic competitive advantage.

dunnhumbyUSA combines natural abilities with big ideas to find clues and patterns as to what customers are buying and why. dunnhumbyUSA turns insights from over 200 million households worldwide into actionable strategies that create dramatic growth and sustainable loyalty, ultimately improving brand value and the customer experience, the company noted in a release.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index