Davila Becomes Vons President, Replaces Fahey

William S. Davila, 53, has been named president and chief operating officer of the Vons supermarket chain. Davila is a 37-year employee of the firm.

He replaces Jerome C. Fahey, former president of Vons, who has taken early retirement from the El Monte-based company. Fahey has joined a major competitor, Lucky Stores Inc., based in Dublin, Calif.

Fahey, 57, who had been with Vons Grocery Co. for 30 years, had held the top-ranking job until Roger E. Stangeland was named chairman and chief executive last October by Vons’ parent company, Household International Inc. of Chicago.

The duties of president were then restructured and split between Fahey, who headed the supermarkets segment, and Davila, who was promoted from executive vice president to oversee the “combination stores” division. Combination stores are a new, expanded version of the Vons supermarket, adding such amenities as pharmacies to the traditional grocery line.

“I had made my decision to take early retirement earlier in the year, then this opportunity (at Lucky) presented itself,” Fahey, now vice president of merchandising for Lucky’s northern division, said in a telephone interview. He added that it was time “after 30 years with one company to strike out in a new direction.” He joined Lucky shortly after his Dec. 31 resignation from Vons.

Other appointments at Vons include: Garret Nelson, senior vice president and chief financial officer; Benjamin F. Harrington, senior vice president-retail operations; J. Richard Risher, senior vice president-human resources; Peter M. Horn, group vice president-supermarket operations; Donald Hays, vice president-operations, and Daniel D. Granger, vice president, marketing.