Ex-Giant Food exec hired as Albertsons/Safeway CAO

The recently merged Albertsons and Safeway organization has appointed Justin Dye as chief administrative officer of the combined company.



Lee Wilson, who previously held this position with the company, has elected to stay in his role as consultant and not go forward as an officer with the newly combined organization.



In his new role, Dye will have overall responsibility for information technology, real estate and corporate development, as well as supply chain. He will also continue to oversee all aspects related to the integration of Safeway and Albertsons.



A former executive with Cerberus Capital Management, Dye played an integral role in the acquisition and formation of Albertson’s LLC. He became the company’s chief strategy officer in 2006, leading several functions including corporate development, strategic planning and real estate management, as well as mergers and acquisitions. In 2013, he was named COO of New Albertson’s. Prior to Cerberus, Dye served in leadership roles with GE, Commerx and Arthur Andersen Consulting.



The company also announced that Jim Perkins, Acme Markets division president, will succeed Dye as COO of the company’s East region. Dan Croce, VP of marketing and merchandising for Acme, will become president of that division.



Perkins joined New Albertson’s in 2013 after several years with Giant Food, where he served as regional VP. He began his career with Albertsons as a clerk in 1982. While working his way through the retail ranks, he served in roles of increasing responsibility, culminating in VP of operations for Albertson’s in 2006. Perkins joined Albertson’s LLC’s southern division as director of operations. He became president of the Acme Markets division in March 2013.



Croce has been with Acme for nine years, joining the company as a district manager in 2005. He was promoted to director of operations in 2008. He was named VP of operations in 2011, a role he retained through the NAI acquisition in 2013. In 2014, Croce was promoted to VP of marketing and merchandising. His grocery career began in 1985 with SuperFresh/A&P Food Markets.