BRUSSELS — The Delhaize Group has appointed Kevin Holt, the former president of retail operations at Supervalu Inc., as chief executive officer for Delhaize America Inc.

The Delhaize Group has appointed Kevin Holt, the former president of retail operations at Supervalu Inc., as chief executive officer for Delhaize America Inc.

Holt will also become a member of the executive committee at Delhaize.

Holt has more than two decades of leadership experience. Before joining Supervalu, he spent three years at Sears Holdings Corp. and 14 years at Meijer Inc. Before moving into retail, Holt spent nine years at NCR Corp. providing technology solutions to large companies. He has a bachelor’s degree in business economics from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich.

"We are very pleased to have Kevin join our team," said Delhaize Group president and chief executive officer Frans Muller. "Kevin brings both deep industry experience and a comprehensive customer orientation that will help our U.S. operations implement our existing strategy and build on the strong momentum of recent quarters. We are looking forward to working with him."

"I am excited about the opportunity to lead Delhaize America and work with Frans, the Delhaize America team and my colleagues in the group executive committee," Holt said. "I look forward to reinforcing and executing the strategy and continuing to focus on our customers as I see tremendous opportunity in the business."

Delhaize America operates about 1,500 stores in the United States under such banners as Food Lion, Bottom Dollar and Hannaford. The U.S. business accounts for about 60% of Delhaize’s revenue. It had been without a chief since September.