ShopKo Names New President-CEO

Sam Duncan, formerly president of Fred Meyer Stores Inc. (Portland, Ore.), has been named president and ceo of ShopKo Stores Inc. (Green Bay, Wis.), effective Oct. 30, 2002. He replaces Jeffrey Girard, who has been interim ceo since April, when William Podany suddenly resigned “for personal reasons” after eight years on the job. Girard will remain vice chairman of finance and administration, reporting to Duncan.

Duncan, who began his retail career as a courtesy clerk in an Albertson's store in 1969, became director of operations for the California supermarket chain in 1991. He joined Fred Meyer the following year as vp of the grocery department. In 1998, when Fred Meyer acquired Ralph's Super Markets, he was named president of the Ralph's division. He became president of Fred Meyer in 2001.

ShopKo operates 141 ShopKo specialty discount stores, primarily in the Midwest, Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions, and 225 Pamida discount stores in smaller, mostly rural communities.