The newly appointed chief executive of Albertsons Colorado stores is the chairman of Boulder-based Wild Oats Markets Inc. but will not seek re-election because of his new position.
Robert Miller’s new role would conflict with his duties as Wild Oats’ chairman, the natural-foods retailer said in a regulatory filing Thursday. Miller has served as chairman of Wild Oats since December 2004.
He will take over as CEO of Albertsons stores in the Rocky Mountains, northern California, Florida, Dallas-Fort Worth and the Southwest when the sale of the stores to an investment group led by Cerberus Capital Management LP closes this summer.
Miller served as chairman and chief executive of the Fred Meyer Inc. grocery chain from 1991 to 1999, when it merged with Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. At that time, he was appointed vice chairman and chief executive of Kroger.
Miller served as chief executive of drugstore chain Rite Aid Corp. from December 1999 to June 2003. Since late 1999, he has served as chairman of Rite Aid, a position he will retain.
Miller is also a director at Harrah’s Entertainment and a member of the board of Nordstrom Inc.
Wild Oats board members David Chamberlain and Mark Retzloff also notified the company that they would not stand for re-election at the company’s annual meeting May 2.
Chamberlain cited the time commitments of his other business obligations and Retzloff cited other commitments as their reasons for leaving.
All three will remain on the board until the annual meeting.
Shares of Wild Oats gained more than 8 percent to close at $19.96 before the company’s announcement Thursday. The price was up 7 cents in after- hours trading.
Staff writer Kristi Arellano can be reached at 303-820-1902 or karellano@denverpost.com.
