Ahold Delhaize USA appoints company veteran to c-suite

Grocery parent company Ahold Delhaize USA has named its new chief legal officer.

Kim Lyda has been appointed to the position, and will provide the company with legal counsel, as well as other services such as public affairs, risk management, food safety and compliance. She most recently served as senior VP of the Business Integrity Group for Retail Business Services, a former Ahold Delhaize USA services company, where she led a team of compliance, government relations, legal affairs, quality assurance, and risk and safety professionals across five locations.

With 22 years of service at Ahold Delhaize USA companies, Lyda has an extensive background in the grocery retail industry and is a recipient of Progressive Grocer’s Top Women in Grocery award for senior-level executives. Before joining Ahold Delhaize USA companies, she worked in private practice for seven years and began her career as a Judicial Clerk to Justice Louis B. Meyers of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Lyda is the latest addition to Ahold Delhaize USA’s c-suite. In February, Marc Stolzman was named chief sustainability officer, overseeing all aspects of health and sustainability for the Dutch grocer’s U.S. subsidiary.

“I have worked with Kim for many years, and she provides excellent legal counsel and is a trusted and dedicated business leader who works tirelessly to help the companies of Ahold Delhaize USA achieve their business goals,” said JJ Fleeman, CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA. “Her impact is evident throughout the company, and we all will benefit from her expertise and guidance in the role of chief legal officer for our U.S. businesses.”

Ahold Delhaize USA’s banners include Food Lion, Giant Food, The Giant Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. The company operates more than 2,000 stores and 20 distribution centers across more than 20 states.