Dive Brief:
- Seven & i Holdings has hired former beverage industry executive Mauricio Leyva as CEO of 7-Eleven Inc., the convenience retailer’s business in North America, the company announced on Thursday.
- Leyva will assume leadership of 7-Eleven on Aug. 1, the announcement said. He joins from global consultancy McKinsey & Company, where he’d been a senior advisor since early 2025, according to his LinkedIn bio. He was group president of Keurig Dr Pepper from 2020 to 2024, and has held senior leadership roles with Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Grupo Modelo as well as SABMiller, according to the announcement.
- Leyva will spearhead the nation’s largest convenience retailer as it continues to climb out of a difficult past few years marred by economic headwinds.
Dive Insight:
Leyva’s hiring marks the end to one of the most closely watched storylines in convenience retail since former CEO Joseph DePinto resigned at the end of last year. DePinto’s successor is tasked with leading 7-Eleven into its next era as the company continues to face pressure to improve a lack of innovation and profitability in the U.S.
Leyva steps into convenience retailing for the first time after spending more than two decades in the consumer products industry. At Keurig Dr Pepper, he played a key role in the post-merger integration of the two companies, and as CEO of Mexican dairy company Grupo Lala he “led a comprehensive business transformation and significant expansion of the company’s strategic positioning,” according to the announcement.
As CEO of 7-Eleven, Leyva will work closely with Seven & i’s leadership team “to elevate the customer experience, strengthen the store network, advance operational excellence and innovation, and drive sustainable, profitable growth,” according to the announcement.
“Mauricio brings a wealth of executive leadership experience at global consumer goods companies and a proven track record of leading business transformations," said Steve Dacus, president and CEO of Seven & i Holdings. "His appointment represents an important milestone as the company accelerates toward our transformation program 'North Star', and we are delighted to welcome Mauricio to the Seven & i family to lead SEI into this next stage of growth."
At the center of 7-Eleven’s North Star plan is a blueprint to remodel more than 7,000 convenience stores across the U.S. through 2030, as well as convert roughly 2,600 company-owned locations to its franchise model in that same timeframe. In the shorter term, Leyva will guide 7-Eleven towards its goal of opening 205 new stores in fiscal 2026, as outlined in the company’s latest earnings statement.
Leyva will also assume leadership as 7-Eleven approaches its 100th birthday in 2027.
"I have long admired the 7-Eleven brand, and I am honored to lead [7-Eleven] at such an important moment in its history,” Leyva said in the announcement. “I look forward to working closely with our franchise owners, our associates, and the leadership team across Seven & i to unlock [7-Eleven’s] full potential. Together, we will redefine convenience and bring the 7-Eleven experience to more customers across North America.”
