Safeway has appointed Bill Baer as president of its Eastern Division, the retailer here said Tuesday.
Baer most recently was president of Safeway’s Dominick’s division in Chicago, which Safeway is in the process of divesting.
At the company’s Lanham, Md.-based Eastern Division, Baer is succeeding Steve Neibergall, who has left the company. Published reports Wednesday said Rick Stein, vice president, merchandising; and Glenn Davis, vice president, finance; have also left the division. A company spokesman would not confirm that information however. Neibergall had served as division president since 2007.
Baer joined Safeway in 2001 as vice president of finance for the company's Phoenix division. In 2004, he became group vice president of finance planning and analysis at Safeway's corporate headquarters. He joined Dominick's as chief financial officer in 2008, and was promoted to president of that division in 2011.
Prior to joining Safeway, Baer spent more than 12 years with Marriott Corp. in various financial management positions in operations, corporate finance and real estate development.
"Brian's proven management skills and experience will serve our customer base well in the Eastern Division," Kelly Griffith, Safeway’s executive vice president, retail operations, said in a statement.
Safeway’s Eastern division includes 150 stores in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Delaware.
