In order to better serve the retail industry with state of the art AI and to couple that with optimal operations and processes, Focal Systems is proud to announce the hiring of Suzy Monford, former Kroger executive, as Chief Strategy and Marketplace Officer.
What does Suzy bring to Focal Systems?
With over 30 years’ expertise in grocery and restaurant industries, Monford brings a passion for innovating go-to-market strategies and top tech to transform the global food and retail sectors. She will be based in Austin, TX, where she will heading the company’s office.
“Since 2015 our team has worked with Suzy as a customer, advisor and friend to guide our product roadmap and strategy,” said Francois Chaubard, Focal Systems Founder and CEO.
“She is the smartest person in retail we have had the pleasure of working with. We are thrilled she has elected to join us at this pivotal moment in our company’s growth. Her leadership expertise as a retailer who’s led e-commerce and tech innovations in the U.S., U. K., and Australia are hugely valuable to us and our customers as we grow around the world.”
“Throughout my career as an operator, marketer and customer experience innovator, I’ve been fortunate to work with best-in-class leaders, so I’m thrilled to join Francois and the Focal team at this moment in our industry’s evolution,” said Monford.
“The need to reimagine and rebuild the world’s food economy has never been more vital—to the stores and communities we serve, and more broadly, to the environment.”
What is Suzy’s industry expertise?
After a brief stint with PCC, Monford joins Focal following 3 years with Kroger. As Group Vice President of eCommerce, she helped create and lead go-to-market strategies for Kroger’s e-commerce partnership with Ocado into new markets across the U.S. During her tenure with Kroger, Monford also served as Group Vice President of Fresh, and President of QFC.
Monford began her supermarket career working for a decade in leadership roles for H-E-B. She gained international experience with senior executive roles with both Woolworths and Coles, and returned to the U.S. to become CEO of Andronico’s in San Francisco, a company she is credited for turning around as she led its successful acquisition by Albertson’s Safeway.
