Supervalu names new legal chief

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu chief Sam Duncan continues to finalize his leadership team by naming Karla Robertson as EVP legal.

Robertson replaces Todd Sheldon, EVP, general counsel and corporate secretary, who will stay through May to assist the company in the completion of its fiscal 2013 year-end filings. At that time, Robertson will assume the additional roles and responsibilities held by Sheldon, including the title of executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. In this role, Robertson will have responsibility for overseeing the legal, risk management and asset protection teams for the company as well as working closely with Supervalu’s non-executive chairman, Robert Miller, and the company’s 11-person board of directors.

In addition, Supervalu announced that Sherry Smith, EVP and chief financial officer, will leave the company at the end of May. Smith has served as the company’s CFO since her appointment in December 2010. She has spent 26 years with Supervalu and previously served as senior vice president, finance. The company plans to announce a new CFO at a later date.

Robertson joined Supervalu in July 2009 as senior labor and employment counsel and was later promoted to VP of the employment, compensation and benefits law functions. Prior to Supervalu, Robertson served as senior counsel with Target Corporation and was an associate attorney at Faegre & Benson LLP, where she practiced in both the employment and business litigation areas.

“Sherry and Todd worked tirelessly to help structure the deal with AB Acquisition and then see the transaction through to completion,” said Duncan. “I am grateful for their commitment to this company and our shareholders and know they helped put us in a strong position to be successful going forward. I wish them both the best in their future endeavors.”