Former Lidl executive Kenneth McGrath has been named the new CEO of US discount grocery retailer Save-A – Lot. Mr McGrath will begin his new CEO duties at Save-A-Lot on April 21.

An experienced leader in the discount grocery sector, Mr McGrath spent 13 years with Lidl in executive roles including CEO of Lidl’s Ireland division from 2009 to 2013 and CEO of Lidl USA from 2013 to 2015. Mr McGrath also served as Operations Director for Superquinn.

During his time in the role of CEO of Lidl Ireland, McGrath lead the retail chain through a period of exceptional customer and revenue growth while also maintaining a cost leadership position within the retailer’s global operations. Mr McGrath was then chosen to spearhead Lidl’s entry into the United States grocery market. He moved on from this role to become CEO of the Caribbean and Central America region at wireless telecommunications firm Digicel, where he had responsibility for 26 markets comprising $2 billion in annual sales.

Matthew Ross, chairman of Save-A-Lot’s board and managing director of majority shareholder Onex said in a statement, “We are thrilled that Kenneth has chosen to lead Save-A-Lot as we chart a new course for the company after its separation from Supervalu,” said. “Kenneth is a strong executive that brings to Save-A-Lot tremendous experience in hard-discount retailing. He is highly capable of building a world-class organization, investing in the company’s capabilities and systems, and returning Save-A-Lot to industry-leading growth by leveraging its unique market position.”

McGrath described the opportunity to lead Save-A-Lot during “this exciting phase [as] a real privilege. Save-A-Lot has a proud history of delivering exceptional value to its customers throughout the U.S., and I am looking forward to working with Save-A-Lot’s dedicated associates and licensees to serve customers in ways that enhance their experience and, in doing so, driving a period of sustained growth for the organization.”

Save-A-Lot is a hard discount supermarket chain with headquarters in Missouri owns and operates 477 corporate stores, and services and supplies another 867 licensee-owned hard-discount grocery stores across the country. With more than 1,300 stores in urban, suburban and rural areas, Save-A-Lot reaches more than 5 million shoppers weekly.

McGrath will be taking over from Eric Claus, Save-A-Lot’s current CEO.