Multiple convenience retailers made changes to their C-suites as part of a wave of executive changes in September. Others brought in new leaders to run their fuel, retail media and food departments.
Below are the top c-store executive moves from September. And here’s our August executive roundup in case you missed it.
FEMSA found its new CEO
Fomento Económico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V., parent of Latin American c-store giant Oxxo, has appointed Jose Antonio Fernández Garza-Lagüera as its next CEO, effective Nov. 1. He’ll replace FEMSA chairman Jose Antonio Fernández Carbajal, who became interim CEO when former chief executive Daniel Rodríguez Cofré stepped down in 2023.
Since joining the company in 2011, Garza-Lagüera has held several roles across multiple teams, including director of strategic planning at Oxxo and general manager of Coca-Cola FEMSA Central America. He became CEO of FEMSA’s retail division in November 2023.
Parker’s promotes CFO to co-CEO
Parker’s Kitchen promoted CFO John Rudolfs to co-CEO alongside incumbent Brandon Hofmann, who was named CEO in March.
Rudolfs joined Parker’s in 2021 as chief development officer and was promoted to president and CFO earlier this year when Hoffman was elevated to chief executive. Prior to joining Parker’s, Rudolfs was chief development officer for MAPCO and an executive vice president at Murphy USA.
Wawa brings in new CMO from General Mills
Doug Martin is now Wawa’s chief marketing officer. He joined the c-store retailer after working for nearly 20 years at General Mills, where he was most recently CMO.
Martin’s time with General Mills gave him experience with large, established brands, but he was also involved in the company’s GWorks team, which focuses on finding new insights and trends.
Yesway appoints marketing, merchandising chief
Yesway named Ray Harrison as its chief marketing and merchandising officer. He replaced Derek Gaskins, who departed in March to become head of guest experience for BP.
Before joining Yesway, Harrison spent six years with Cal’s Convenience, most recently in its chief marketing and merchandising officer role. He also worked for more than 20 years with Brookshire Grocery Company.
“His deep industry expertise, innovative mindset, and commitment to excellence make him the ideal choice to lead our marketing and merchandising efforts,” said Tom Trkla, chairman, president and CEO of Yesway.
Rhodes Convenience Stores names P&G alum as COO
Robert Cisneros took over as chief operating officer of Rhodes Convenience Stores, overseeing operations at the retailer’s 30-plus stores in southeast Missouri, southern Illinois and western Kentucky. He joined Rhodes after more than 29 years with consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble, where his roles included operations manager for the company’s papermaking process and senior director of global innovation for the family care division.
3rd generation takes leadership roles at Englefield
Englefield, the family-owned parent company of the 116-site Duchess Convenience Stores, added a third generation of its founding family to its leadership team. F.W. “Will” Englefield V is now president of Englefield Energy and Ashley Englefield DeWitt is president of Englefield Retail.
Their fathers, F.W. (Bill) Englefield IV and Ben Englefield, remain at the head of the broader company.
3 companies add new fuel leadership
Energy roles took center stage for three different retailers in September.
7-Eleven named Dan Gordon senior vice president of fuel supply and trading. He had previously worked at investment management company Castleton Commodities International as managing director and head of its oil liquids origination.
Pilot Company promoted Jesús Guerra as the next president of its energy division. He joined Pilot in 2018 from Noble Americas Corp, the oil arm of Noble Group. He also spent more than seven years working across multiple roles with the commodities division of Merrill Lynch.
Finally, GPM Investments, the c-store arm of Arko, appointed Michael Nowotny to senior vice president of operations for fuel distribution unit GPM Empire. He joined Arko in 2020 when the company bought Empire Petroleum Partners’ wholesale distribution and retail business and moved into executive leadership with Arko in 2022.
Refuel names Nouria alum director of food strategy
Refuel Operating Company upped its food game, naming Michael Farnick director of food-service strategy and innovation.
Farnick joins Refuel from fellow regional convenience retailer Nouria, where he was a senior category manager. Prior to Nouria, he was food and beverage category manager and corporate chef with Dash In, the c-store arm of Maryland-based Wills Group. He also served as a corporate or executive chef at Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, food broker Food Sales East and Firebirds Restaurant.
Circle K names new director of retail media
Joell Robinson, the former senior director of retail media at Giant Eagle, is now Circle K’s new director of retail media.
During her time as senior director at Giant Eagle — which owned the GetGo Cafe + and Market until Circle K parent Alimentation Couche-Tard acquired it in July — Robinson led new product offerings and the go-to-market strategy for retail media.
