The BGJ Group Boosts Operations, Strategy and Product Development Portfolio with Addition of Mark Panzer and Richard Shea

NAPLES, FLA – The BGJ Group, a leading management consulting firm focused on
delivering solutions to the extended retail value chain, is pleased to announce the addition
of Mark Panzer and Richard Shea to its team as Associates. Panzer and Shea will deepen
the firm’s knowledge in the supermarket, drug, dollar and mass channels, bringing
expertise in retail operations, merchandising, strategy development and product
development for The BGJ Group’s clientele.
“We couldn’t be more excited that two lifelong retailers who are well respected in the
industry for their knowledge, leadership and accomplishments chose The BGJ Group to
continue their contributions to the retail industry,” says Vince Burke, Managing Partner
of BGJ. “As our company grows, we know how important it is to keep adding value for
current clients and prospective clients and Mark and Rich are clear proof of our effort.”

Mark Panzer
Mark Panzer, a former chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, began
his retail career  in the Midwest at Osco Drug stores more than 40 years ago. He moved
into regional sales, marketing and operations roles for the drug store chain, eventually
serving as district manager as well as director, and subsequently, senior vice president of
sales and marketing with American Drug Stores, which merged with Albertsons Inc. in
1999. Panzer was named senior vice president of sales and marketing for the combined
company. In 2001, he joined Rite Aid as executive vice president of store operations,
moving up to senior executive vice president of store operations and, in 2005, was named
senior executive vice president and chief marketing officer. He accepted the position of
president & CEO of Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, Inc. in 2008, and then returned to
Albertsons Companies in 2015 as senior vice president of pharmacy and health &
wellness. In 2016, Panzer’s role was expanded to include oversight of general
merchandise and health & beauty business.
Panzer was awarded the Drug Store News – Pharmacy Innovator of the Year in 2018, the
Mass Market Retailers – Health & Wellness Merchant of the Year (2016), Vitamin
Retailer – Retailer of the Year (2011), and the Drug Store News – Operations Executive of
the Year (2003).  Mark recently was awarded Mass Market Retailers’ Lifetime
Achievement Award. He attended Loyola University Chicago, obtaining an MBA in
Finance.
“I’m looking forward to working with team at BGJ to bring my expertise and experience
to our clients. It’s a great opportunity to guide leading retailers, brands and vendors to
increase their profitability and performance,” says Panzer.

Richard Shea
Richard Shea is a seasoned retail executive with more than 40 years of experience in
merchandising, procurement and marketing, including 34 years with the Kroger Co. in
roles across store operations, division management and corporate headquarters. During
his last 18 years with Kroger, he had corporate responsibility for health and beauty care
and non-food merchandising. Shea is recognized in the industry as a collaborative leader

with expertise in driving retail strategy and execution; a passion for partnering with
suppliers to create mutual wins for the retailer, supplier, and customer and an unyielding
focus on store-level personnel engagement.
During Shea’s tenure as senior director of health and beauty care and non-food
merchandising, Kroger experienced unprecedented success, including 49 straight quarters
of positive same store sales growth and market share gains. He played a key role in
numerous successful Kroger initiatives, including personal needs reinvention, pricing
strategies, store layouts, collaborative category optimization and the application of
customer data and insights into executable strategies and tactics.
“The BGJ Group has a great reputation in the retail sector, and my experience and
connections will help expand the firm’s strategic and tactical offerings while
strengthening its existing knowledge base. We’ll be doing some amazing things for our
clients,” says Shea.

About The BGJ Group
Based in Naples, Fla., The BGJ Group is a global consultancy focused on the supermarket, mass,
convenience, drug and specialty retail channels. Founded by retail and consumer products
industry veterans Vince Burke, Jim Gillis, and Rich Juliano, later adding Mike Carter as a partner
in 2019, the firm offers executive management, market strategy, mergers & acquisitions, private
equity, business development, product marketing, trade relations, executive search and related
services to leading retailers, suppliers and vendors. Additional information is available at
https://bgjgroup.com/.