Forgotten Harvest in Oak Park has named Meijer Inc. Market Director Adrian Lewis as CEO following a national search.
Before his appointment, Lewis had been Detroit-Flint-Cincinnati regions market director, a position he held at Meijer since 2010.
“Adrian is a talented leader with a proven track record in strategic oversight, stakeholder engagement, and team development to effectively guide our rapidly evolving organization in addressing increased community need,” says Randy Kummer, board chairman at Forgotten Harvest. “With his leadership and the support of the Forgotten Harvest team and all of our partners, we are poised to continue our mission and make an even greater impact in the years to come.”
At Meijer, he drove market-level key metrics including sales, profit, and customer satisfaction. He was accountable for retail team members at all levels for a market territory of 12 high-volume stores in the metro Detroit area to ensure delivery of the best possible experience for customers.
In 2013, he led the project and built the team for Meijer’s first supercenter in the city of Detroit at Woodward and Eight Mile Road. Prior to this, he held leadership positions at Rite Aid Corp. from 1999-2010 and at Albertsons (Seessel’s) from 1989-1999. He also earned an executive MBA degree from Howard University.
“I am honored and humbled to lead such a well-respected organization that is dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of those in need,” Lewis says. “I am committed to working with our passionate team and partners to provide greater access to, and an improved supply of, more nutritious food to help reduce hunger and improve health outcomes for our neighbors in need.”
Lewis says he is “very committed to fostering community engagement, social impact, mentoring and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.” He served on the Meijer Diversity Council, was a Meijer Credit Union Board Member, and has been involved with the Detroit Public Schools Revitalization, Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Make-A-Wish America, and has been recognized as one of The Michigan Chronicle’s Men of Excellence.
He replaces Lorna Utley, who served as interim CEO since December 2022, following eight years of service of former CEO Kirk Mayes.
“Forgotten Harvest appreciates Lorna for stepping up during this transition and Kirk for his visionary leadership and commitment to the community,” Kummer says.
