Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> October 1, 1998

John E. Stokely – Richfood Holdings Inc (rfh)

John E. Stokely is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Richfood Holdings, Inc. Mr. Stokely was elected to Chairman in June 1998. He bacame President and Chief Executive Officer in 1996. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Stokely has been with Richfood Holdings since August 1990. Mr. Stokely has over 25 years of operating experience in both retail and wholesale industries. Prior to joining Richfood, Mr. Stokely was President and Chief Executive Officer of Richmond-based Miller & Rhodes department store chain. He previously served with Allied Stores Corporation where he was Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration of the Miller & Rhodes division prior to it becoming a private company. He also held positions with Allied stores' Maas Brothers department store division and was with the 1,200 store Jack Eckerd Drug Company. Mr. Stokely currently serves on the Board of Directors for Performance Group and Food Distributors International. He is also a member of the Management Round Table, the Regional Transportation Advocacy Board and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business Council. Mr. Stokely is an honor graduate of the University of Tennessee with a B.S. degree in accounding. He is married and has four children. Profile
TWST: Give us a background summary, a bit of an historical sketch,

enough of a summary to place us into context as to what you see as

your company today.

Mr. Stokely: Richfood has actually