Grocery conglomerate, Heritage Grocers Group, recruits new Chief Administrative Officer
Heritage Grocers Group (HGG) Announces New Leadership Appointments
Heritage Grocers Group (HGG), a modern Hispanic and tech-forward grocer, has made several key leadership appointments. Among them is the appointment of Leticia G. Espinoza as the Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel.
Espinoza, who joined HGG in 2019 as the chief legal and human resources officer, has now been promoted to this high-level administrative and legal role. She will report directly to HGG Chairman and CEO Suzy Monford.
Espinoza's extensive legal experience spans over 25 years, with more than two decades in executive in-house roles for both publicly traded and privately owned organizations. Her expertise includes corporate law, labor and employment law, legal department management, human resources, compliance, risk management, construction, real estate, and financial services.
The appointment of Espinoza coincides with recent leadership changes at HGG, such as the CEO stepping down and the appointment of Frank Ingraffia as CEO and Chief Transformation Officer.
Espinoza's responsibilities at HGG include overseeing real estate, loss prevention, corporate affairs, communications, legal, risk management, and human resources. Her leadership and dedication to HGG's people and mission have been noted by Monford.
In addition to her role at HGG, Espinoza serves on the board of directors for several foundations and organizations, including the Cardenas Markets Foundation, the Heritage Grocers Group Foundation, Manos y Corazones Unidos Foundation, Olive Crest Roundtable, and the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance.
Other notable appointments at HGG include the promotion of Kim Cates to Group VP of Merchandising and Allison Garcia to Group VP of Marketing. Matthew Holt has been named the new CFO of HGG, succeeding Darren Karst who has retired.
Espinoza's achievements extend beyond HGG. She is the recipient of the Professional Achievement Award from the Mexican American Bar Foundation. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California and a Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School.
Monford, in an interview with Progressive Grocer, discussed the growth trajectory of HGG's 3 brands. HGG operates in six states - California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Kansas, and Illinois - with a total of 57 stores under the Cardenas Markets banner, 29 stores under the El Rancho Supermercado banner, 21 stores under Tony's Fresh Market banner, 21 stores under the Los Altos Ranch Market banner, and 7 stores under the new Los Altos Ranch Market banner. The company has partnerships with Instacart, Caper, and RELEX.
While a comprehensive account of Espinoza's career trajectory and notable achievements prior to her role at HGG could not be provided based on current available search data, further information might be obtained from professional platforms such as LinkedIn, company press releases, or directly from Heritage Grocers Group communications.
Espinoza's new role as Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel at Heritage Grocers Group (HGG) demonstrates her significant career progression in finance, business, and leadership, with her expertise spanning corporate law, human resources, compliance, risk management, and financial services. In this new capacity, she will oversee various departments with direct reporting to HGG Chairman and CEO, Suzy Monford.
