albertsons

Susan Morris

EVP & COO, Albertsons Companies

Susan Morris began her career in Albertsons Denver Division while still in high school and worked her way up in the ranks proving her ability to lead, to execute and to bring teams together in one assignment after another in her 30+ years in the retail grocery business. Since March of 2015, Susan has led the Denver Division team after having successfully led our Boise-based Intermountain Division for the two prior years. Her career has spanned roles from Store Director to Corporate Grocery Sales Director, Vice President of Bakery and Operations and, upon the sale of Albertson’s Inc.’s assets to SUPERVALU, Vice President of Customer Satisfaction. In 2010, she was Senior Vice President of Sales and Merchandising when she left SUPERVALU to join Albertsons LLC’s Southwest Division as Grocery Sales Manager, and was appointed Vice President of Marketing & Merchandising in 2012.

Morris was named EVP, East Operations in April 2016, and after a year leading those divisions was appointed EVP, West Operations in April 2017. In January 2018, Susan was appointed EVP & Chief Operations Officer.

A talented leader with profound commitment, Morris is widely admired within the company for readily accepting new challenges, developing others and bringing teams together. She personifies Albertsons' entrepreneurial spirit.

Morris says, "One of the key lessons I have learnt overtime is never hesitate to ask for what you want because you often get it. Push yourself to do things that makes you uncomfortable. Take up a new challenge. It's amazing what will happen when you do that. You learn so much when you push yourself to do different things. Surround yourself with people that have passion, energy and drive and excitement. Also make sure you cultivate that."

The humble Leader

Chico’s FAS

Bonnie R. Brooks

CEO and President, Chico’s FAS

The Retail Maverick

As CEO and President of Chico’s FAS, the women speciality retailer, Bonnie Brooks oversees Chico’s 1,500 retail locations across North America. Over the last one year, she has executed on a turnaround plan to sharpen the company's focus on core priorities that have stabilized the business and positioned Chico's FAS to deliver improved top- and bottom-line results.

In her past career Brooks has headed 8 different companies. With over three decades of global executive leadership experience in retail and merchandising, Brooks has led three major international department store turnarounds at Hudson's Bay Co., the Lane Crawford Joyce Group in Asia and Holt Renfrew & Co.

These turnarounds haven't been easy. Brooks had to face (and still faces) daunting challenges in an age of a declining traditional department-store segment and a wobbly economy. These successful turnarounds speak of her visionary leadership. She is always ahead of the curve and has a knack for boldly seizing opportunities that many do not have the courage to pursue, while simultaneously anticipating trends that will change the competitive landscape in the medium term.

A management graduate from Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario, Brooks embodies so many of the leadership qualities that make her an outstanding leader within an extremely competitive industry.

"I've been lucky in my career. I’ve never asked for the next job, the next level. It always happened, kind of naturally. I always have a game plan in mind. I always knew where I wanted to end up. …
I  only knew I could have a quest to be the best," Brooks had said in an interview with the Globe and Mail.