Albertsons Shifted Media Unit Under Marketing Leadership

The retailer has moved its retail media division under the CMO's oversight following the departure of its senior VP.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Business Strategy

Isometric editorial illustration of stacked geometric blocks representing a corporate hierarchy, rendered in muted teal and oxblood tones. — Albertsons has moved its retail media division, Albertsons Media Collective, under the direct leadership of Chief Marketing Officer Emily Turner. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Albertsons has reorganized the reporting structure for the Albertsons Media Collective, transitioning the division to report directly to Chief Marketing Officer Emily Turner. This shift follows the departure of Brian Monahan, who served as the unit's senior vice president.

Why it matters

The change aligns the retailer's data-driven media arm with central marketing operations, centralizing the strategy for how retail data is leveraged to drive branded content.

Albertsons manages 2,200 stores across 35 states to support its media initiatives. The media arm recently produced a 22-episode series titled Rico's Tacos.

The players

Albertsons

A major national grocery retailer operating 2,200 stores across 35 states.

Emily Turner

The current chief marketing officer at Albertsons who now oversees the retail media unit.

Brian Monahan

The former senior vice president of Albertsons Media Collective who joined in 2025.

Susan Morris

The chief executive officer of Albertsons who took the leadership post in 2025.

The details

Albertsons Media Collective uses point-of-sale and loyalty data to create branded content and advertising opportunities for third-party brands. By moving the division under the CMO, the company integrates its retail media business more tightly into the broader marketing department. This structural change follows a period of significant leadership transitions at the executive level, including the appointment of Susan Morris as CEO in 2025.

March 2025: Vivek Sankaran left his role at Albertsons.
July 2025: Brian Monahan joined the company.
June 2026: Albertsons Media Collective launched the Rico's Tacos series.
October 2026: Brian Monahan exited the company.

Market Landscape

This reorganization reflects the 2025 retail media consolidation trend where major grocers are realigning data-driven ad units to match core brand goals. The move follows a pattern of executive turnover that has reshaped the retailer's operational leadership over the past two years.

Operators should watch for potential shifts in advertising procurement or retail data access as the unit integrates into the CMO’s office. Evaluate whether your own marketing partnerships rely on direct access to store-level performance metrics.

The takeaway

Centralizing retail media under marketing often signals a shift toward a more unified brand-storytelling approach. Owners should monitor how media divisions report to ensure their partnerships remain aligned with overall sales and regional consumer demand.