Lillie Is New COO at American President

Former Lucky Stores chief executive John M. Lillie has been named to the new position of president and chief operating officer of American President Cos., an Oakland-based ocean and rail transportation company.

Lillie, 53, was chairman and chief executive of California supermarket giant Lucky Stores Inc. when it was bought by American Stores Co. of Salt Lake City in 1988. He left the company in 1989 after the $2.5-billion merger was completed and joined the venture capital firm Sequoia Associates in Menlo Park, Calif., as a general partner.

At American President, he will oversee both the company’s Pacific Basin shipping line, American President Lines and its domestic freight business, American President Domestic.