COMPANY PRESS RELEASE — SpartanNash announced that Arif Dar will become the new Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the company, effective January 2, 2019. Since 2015, Dar has served as the Chief Information Officer for Racine, Wisconsin-based SC Johnson and Sons, a privately held global manufacturer of household cleaning supplies and consumer goods with operations in more than 60 countries.
As SpartanNash’s Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President, Dar will be responsible for the development and execution of the enterprise-wide IT strategy, ensuring alignment with the enterprise’s overall business strategy, and providing strategic direction and oversight for the design, development, operation and support of IT systems and programs. This oversight includes enterprise architecture management, application management, security and risk management, and infrastructure and operations support management while leading the IT team and leveraging technologies to drive and sustain a competitive advantage. Dar will report to SpartanNash’s President and Chief Executive Officer, David M. Staples.
“We look forward to having Arif join the company,” noted Staples, “as his record of large scale IT strategic planning and execution combined with his vision, collaborative leadership, supply chain experience and knowledge of the food distribution industry lay the foundation for success at SpartanNash. During his tenure at SC Johnson, Arif’s cross-functional relationships throughout the business, empowering management style and ability to drive operating efficiencies with diverse technologies drove an improved customer experience, cost savings and sales growth.”
In addition to working for SC Johnson, Dar has held executive IT positions at Maple Leaf Foods (Toronto), Bombardier Transportation (Berlin, Germany), General Motors (Michigan), Tyco International (New Jersey) and General Electric (USA, Asia, Middle East, Europe, Americas). He received his Master of Business Administration degree in MIS and Operations from the University of Western Ontario, Canada; his Master of Science degree in Communication Systems and Radio Engineering from King’s College, University of London, U.K.; and his Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics & Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore, Pakistan. Dar also has his black belt in Six Sigma Quality Training. He is relocating to West Michigan with his wife Nageen and two sons.
Dar will be assuming the CIO position from David deS. Couch, who is retiring effective February 2, 2019. Couch joined the company in 1987 and has served as Chief Information Officer since 2013. “Dave’s leadership has been key to our success. We thank Dave for his contributions to the company and wish him and his family all the best,” said Staples.
About SpartanNash
SpartanNash (Nasdaq: SPTN) is a Fortune 400 company whose core businesses include distributing grocery products to a diverse group of independent and chain retailers, its corporate-owned retail stores and U.S. military commissaries and exchanges; as well as premier fresh produce distribution and fresh food processing. SpartanNash serves customer locations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Bahrain, Djibouti and Egypt. SpartanNash currently operates 160 supermarkets, primarily under the banners of Family Fare Supermarkets, Martin’s Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery, Dan’s Supermarket and Family Fresh Market. Through its MDV military division, SpartanNash is a leading distributor of grocery products to U.S. military commissaries.
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CONTACT: Meredith Gremel, Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Communications, SpartanNash, 616 878-2830
