Grocery retail
10 CHROs in Grocery Retail
These ten executives hold or have held the chief human resources officer or chief people officer title at grocery retail companies. A reader can learn how CHROs lead people teams in grocery retail companies.
Professionals to explore
01—10Allison Pinkham
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer · Albertsons Companies
Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Albertsons Companies since 2026; the profile describes Albertsons as a food and drug retailer with 285,000 associates. Also Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Committee Member at Galderma (2021–2026) and Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer, Heineken USA at The HEINEKEN Company (2020–2021).
Andrea Bortner
LinkedInExperience: Chief Human Resources Officer · Grocery Outlet
Chief Human Resources Officer at Grocery Outlet since 2020; the profile describes Grocery Outlet as an extreme value retailer of name-brand consumables and fresh products and says the role oversees talent, HR operations and HR business partners. Also Chief Human Resources Officer at Maxar Technologies (2016–2019) and Chief Human Resource Officer at Catalina USA (2012–2016).
Janis Leigh
LinkedInExperience: EVP and Chief People Officer · Giant Eagle, Inc.
EVP and Chief People Officer at Giant Eagle, Inc. since 2021; the profile describes Giant Eagle as a retail groceries company. Also Chief Human Resources Officer at Hudson's Bay Company (2017–2020), along with SVP, HR and Organizational Development (2015–2017) and VP, HR, HBC Shared Services (2013–2015) at the same company.
Jennifer Short
LinkedInExperience: Chief People Officer · The Winn-Dixie Company
Chief People Officer at The Winn-Dixie Company since 2026 and Chief People Officer at Southeastern Grocers (2025–2026); the profile describes Winn-Dixie as a retail groceries company and says the career grew from Store Director to Chief People Officer. Also Vice President of Workforce Strategies (2022–2023) and Vice President Of Store Operations (2018–2022) at Southeastern Grocers.
Jessica Gasser
LinkedInExperience: Chief Human Resources Officer · Wakefern Food Corp.
Chief Human Resources Officer at Wakefern Food Corp. from 2023 to 2025 and Chief Human Resources and Administrative Officer there since 2025; the profile describes Wakefern as a retail company and the largest retailer-owned cooperative. Also Vice President Human Resources, Executive Staff at Wakefern (2021–2023) and Vice President of Human Resources Chief Compliance Officer at ShopRite (2019–2020).
Jose Aguayo
LinkedInExperience: Chief People Officer · Vallarta Supermarkets
Chief People Officer at Vallarta Supermarkets since 2023; the profile describes Vallarta as a retail groceries company known for fresh meats, poultry and seafood. Also Vice President Human Resources at The Meruelo Group (2021–2023), Vice President Human Resources at Cardenas Markets LLC (2014–2020) and Corporate Director Of Human Resources at Bodega Latina Corporation d.b.a. El Super (2002–2014).
Kelly Gillingham Pearse, PHR, M.Ed.
LinkedInExperience: Chief Human Resources Officer · Sendik's Food Market
Chief Human Resources Officer at Sendik's Food Market since 2023, a role the profile describes as driving HR strategy and employee engagement; also a Board Member of Women Grocers of America since 2026. Other roles listed include Director of Human Resources at Carroll University (2019–2023) and Human Resource Generalist at Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care (2016–2017).
Maria D. McDonald
LinkedInExperience: Chief People Officer · Heritage Grocers Group
Chief People Officer at Heritage Grocers Group since 2026; the profile describes Heritage Grocers Group as a family of grocery chains that connects shoppers to Hispanic culinary traditions. At Chedraui USA, roles listed include Group Vice President Human Resources (2025–2026) and Vice President Human Resources (from 2019). Also Vice President of Human Resources at Insignia Brands- Century Snacks/ Tillamook Country Smoker (2016–2019).
Prerana Issar
LinkedInExperience: Chief People Officer and Head of Corporate Affairs at Sainsbury s · Sainsbury's
Chief People Officer and Head of Corporate Affairs at Sainsbury's since 2023; the profile describes Sainsbury's as the UK's second-biggest retailer, focusing on affordable, good food and excellent service. Also Chief People Officer for the NHS at NHS England (2019–2023) and Chief HR Officer at World Food Programme (2013–2017).
Rebecca Grajek
LinkedInExperience: Chief Human Resources Officer · Meijer
Chief Human Resources Officer at Meijer since 2026, after serving there as Vice President, Stores & Corporate Human Resources (2025–2026) and Vice President, Stores Human Resources (2023–2025); the profile describes Meijer as a grocery and retail company. Also Vice President, People at Nerdy (2022–2023) and Vice President, Human Resources at ProMedica (2020–2022).
Choose the right perspective
Match the grocer's scale, ownership and store format to yours, since HR at a national chain or cooperative runs differently from HR at a regional or family-owned market. Also look at the roles each person held before the top HR job, such as store operations, workforce strategy or talent, when your question sits in one of those areas.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you structure HR to support store, distribution and corporate employees whose needs differ so much?
- 02What changes to pay, scheduling or career paths did the most to reduce turnover among store associates?
- 03How did HR support a major change such as a merger, a rebrand or a new operating model across the stores?
Reaching CHROs in Grocery Retail
How can I contact one of these CHROs in Grocery Retail?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including Albertsons Companies; Grocery Outlet and Giant Eagle, Inc., based on profile data retrieved on October 3, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach CHROs in Grocery Retail?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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