Dive Brief:
- Advantage Solutions, a provider of sales and marketing solutions to CPGs and retailers, announced last week that it named Dave Peacock, a former Schnucks Market president, as its CEO, effective Feb. 1. Peacock is also joining Advantage’s board of directors.
- Peacock is taking over the top role from Jill Griffin, who resigned and plans “to pursue other business endeavors,” the press release notes.
- Advantage Solutions also announced the appointment of Chris Baldwin, current chairman of the board of directors of BJ’s Wholesale Club, to the company’s board of directors, also effective Feb. 1.
Dive Insight:
Peacock brings more than 30 years of CPG and retail experience to Advantage Solutions, the announcement noted. In a recorded message to Advantage associates, Peacock said he’s “walked in our clients’ and customers’ shoes and I understand their challenges.”
The Irvine, California-based company, which was founded more than three decades ago, offers data- and technology-driven services, including retail merchandising, in-store and online sampling, and omnichannel marketing, to CPGs and retailers.
Peacock spent two decades of his career at Anheuser-Busch, rising through the ranks from marketing and financial positions to several vice president roles, including the marketing, business operations and high end brands divisions, to then become the brewing company’s president in 2008. Peacock was in that top role for more than three years.
He served as Schnucks’ president and chief operating officer for more than four years from mid-2017 to October 2021. Peacock next joined Continental Grain Company as its chief operating officer.
While in the top role at Schnucks, Peacock oversaw procurement, merchants, store operations, supply chain, marketing and communications and guided the Midwest grocery chain through the initial pandemic years, per his LinkedIn profile. His profile also notes that he led Schnucks through a 20-store acquisition and the divestiture of its pharmacy business.
“When I worked in grocery retail, I was a customer of Advantage and, from my days in the beer industry, I understand the challenges that come with building brands,” Peacock said in a letter to Advantage associates. “I understand the importance of a service-first culture where clients and customers are prioritized regardless of status, position or anything else we use to ‘classify’ people.”
Until Peacock fills the top role, Advantage Solutions Executive Chair Tanya Domier will serve as principal executive officer.
