Gelson's Markets adjusts executive leadership

Encino, Calif.-based Gelson’s Markets has promoted longtime executive John Bagan to president.

Rob McDougall, who had served as president and CEO, will remain the CEO, according to a news release.

“I am confident that, as president, he will become an even stronger catalyst for our strategic initiatives and growth,” McDougall said in the release.

Joining Gelson’s in 2007, McDougall will keep focusing on driving company profitability and the customer experience while managing the relationship between Gelson’s Board of Directors and parent company, Pan Pacific International Holdings.

Other executive changes have happened in the last year or so: Gelson's hired veteran retail executive Clare Bogle as chief financial officer and promoted Ron Johnson to chief information officer.

This is Bagan’s second promotion in just over a year. In May 2021, Bagan was promoted to chief operating officer, after joining Gelson’s as chief merchandising officer in 2016. He previously held executive merchandising roles at Albertson’s, Target and Bruno’s Supermarkets, among other companies.

Bagan began his career as a business analyst for Morgan Stanley and then earned a master’s degree in business administration and marketing from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

“It has been a great honor to work with the best team in our business over these last six years, and I am excited to take on this new leadership opportunity,” Bagan said in the release.

Celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2021, Gelson’s operates 27 full-service specialty grocery stores in Southern California.