PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--United Natural Foods, Inc. today announced an executive team transition plan. Michael (Mike) Zechmeister has been appointed Senior Vice President, effective today, and he will succeed Mark Shamber as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, effective mid-October, 2015. Mr. Shamber will assist with the executive team transition and continue to assist the Company with business strategy and development through December 31, 2015.
“Mark has played an integral role in our growth and development over the last nine years and, on behalf of our board and management team, I want to thank him for his contributions,” said Steve Spinner, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Over the next several weeks Mark will work closely with Mike through this transition. We are excited to have Mike on board as a seasoned leader in finance with significant experience successfully managing and growing multi-billion-dollar businesses as we further adapt to meet the ever-changing needs of customers in an expanding and evolving marketplace.”
Mr. Zechmeister joins the Company from General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) with over 25 years of corporate finance, audit, treasury, operations and merger and acquisition experience. Over his tenure with General Mills, Inc., he served in a variety of senior finance roles, including most recently as Vice President, Finance, Yoplait USA. In addition, Mr. Zechmeister was Vice President and Treasurer from 2010 to 2012, Vice President, Finance, US Retail Sales, from 2007 to 2010 and Vice President, Finance, Pillsbury Division, from 2005 to 2007.
“I have enjoyed working with Steve and the entire UNFI team over the last twelve plus years,” commented Mr. Shamber. “I believe UNFI has a tremendously talented organization with a strong foundation for future growth. Over the next month, I look forward to supporting Mike to ensure a smooth transition, and then shifting my focus to continued corporate development activity.”
About United Natural Foods
United Natural Foods, Inc. (http://www.unfi.com) carries and distributes more than 80,000 products to more than 40,000 customer locations throughout the United States and Canada. The Company serves a wide variety of retail formats, including conventional supermarket chains, natural product superstores, independent retail operators and the food service channel. United Natural Foods, Inc. was ranked by Forbes Magazine in 2014 as one of “America’s Best Managed Companies,” ranked by Fortune in 2012 as one of its “Most Admired American Companies,” and chosen by Food Logistics Magazine as one of its 2013 Top 20 Green Providers.
