Labor & Employment

CHICAGO — Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday joined Peapod to announce the company is relocating its headquarters to downtown Chicago at 300 S. Riverside Plaza.

"Peapod is a national leader in both the food and tech industries and will be a strong addition to Chicago's thriving innovation community," Emanuel shared during a press conference. "In Chicago, the company can continue to expand, create new jobs and contribute to our growing economy."

 ST. PAUL, Minn. — Patterson Cos. on Tuesday named Mark Walchirk president and CEO, effective Nov. 20. He will succeed James Wiltz, who will continue to serve as interim president and CEO until that time and will remain on the Patterson board following the transition.

CINCINNATI — Kroger Monday afternoon named its executive leadership team to support the company's Restock Kroger Plan.

"Kroger is fortunate to have a leadership team that combines deep experience with creative new talent as we strategically reposition the company through our Restock Kroger Plan," stated Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO.

ATLANTA — As the president of its North American arm retires, Coca-Cola is promoting one of its own to the helm. The company has named James “Jim” Dinkins president from his current position as president of the Minute Maid business unit and Coca-Cola North America’s chief retail sales officer.

WHIPPANY, N.J. — Bayer’s consumer health business has two new executives. The company this week named Brenda Raphael SVP and general manager of its therapeutics business unit within the North American consumer health division, and named Jennifer Brendel VP and head of U.S. consumer health communications

WASHINGTON — Jim Perkins, Albertsons EVP retail operations and special projects and president of its Acme stores divsion, has assumed command of the Safeway Eastern division as well, according to a report in the Washington Business Journal earlier this week.

Former Safeway president Dan Valenzuela "left the company to pursue other opportunities," the Journal reported.

CINCINNATI — Kroger earlier this week named Pam Matthews president of the company's central division and Suzy Monford as president of the QFC division.

Monford replaces Matthews, formerly president of Kroger's QFC division, succeeds Katie Wolfram, who is retiring. Monford is assuming the role vacated by Matthew.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday announced with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel that it will bring approximately 300 technology positions to its current downtown Chicago office in the Sullivan Center to establish a new technology center of excellence.

Walgreens is currently building out its space in the Sullivan Center to host the new center of excellence, which will host much of the company’s retail pharmacy technology team along with the digital, mobile and e-commerce technology teams that currently work there.