As grocers prepare for 2024, many are looking ahead with fresh leadership at the top.
A host of retailers named new CEOs this year — including some that abruptly forced out their chief executives as they sought to change course.
Giant Eagle grabbed headlines in March when it severed ties with longtime CEO Laura Shapira Karet, whose departure marked the end of her family’s representation in the executive ranks of a company it co-founded almost a century ago. Dollar General, meanwhile, fired its CEO, Jeffery Owen, in October less than a year after he took over the position, replacing him with predecessor Todd Vasos “to restore stability and confidence” in the discounter.
Other companies went through less disruptive top-level transitions in 2023. In March, Cardenas Markets promoted Eric Stover to take over the CEO’s role from Doug Sanders, who moved up to become chairman and CEO of the ethnic grocer’s parent company. Similarly, California supermarket operator Gelson’s gained a new CEO when John Bagan ascended to the top job after serving as president.
Some of the nation’s largest retailers will get new CEOs as the new year gets underway. Publix in November promoted its president, Kevin Murphy, to become its next CEO, while Ron Vachris will become CEO of Costco as the club retailer carries out a carefully crafted succession plan. Murphy and Vachris are both set to take over their new jobs on Jan. 1, 2024.
Here’s a look back at some of the top CEO changes announced in 2023.
