Dive Brief:
- The Kent Companies has announced a corporate reorganization that will split its business into two divisions — one for the retail side and another for the rest of its operations, the company said in a press release on Monday.
- Kent has hired Brett Giseki to serve as president of the retail group and oversee convenience store, foodservice and merchandising operations, while President and Chief Operating Officer Todd Watkins will become president of the services group, which encompasses the rest of the company.
- This reorganization is “designed to strengthen leadership focus as the company continues significant expansion across nine states,” according to the announcement. Both new hires will report to Bill Kent, chairman and CEO.
Dive Insight:
As Kent continues to focus on expansion, the new structure dedicates an executive to the development and performance of its c-stores.
Kent, which mainly operates under the Kent Kwik c-store banner, has more than doubled its store count through both M&A and new builds since 2020 and now stands at 132 stores in nine states. In just the last year it bought 15-store B&B Petroleum, an acquisition that brought the company to Louisiana, and opened several new stores, including a new food-focused format.
“This structure reflects the scale of our business today and positions us to operate with greater focus, speed, and accountability as we continue to grow,” Bill Kent said in the announcement.
Giesick, who officially took on his new role in November, according to his LinkedIn profile, brings more than 30 years of experience in the c-store industry, including more than 20 years in senior leadership roles across multiple major retailers.
He served as president of Enmarket from 2017 to 2022, a role in which he oversaw the Savannah, Georgia-based chain’s growth from 57 to 139 locations, according to the press release. He then became executive vice president and chief operating officer of Colonial Group, Enmarket’s parent company, and held that position until joining Kent.
Watkins’ new role puts him in charge of Kent’s car-care-focused businesses like Kent Lubrication Centers, Kent Tire and Kent Car Wash as well as Prince Signs, WesTex Urgent Care and the wholesale fuels, transportation and logistics, and financial services businesses.
Watkins has been with the company since 2017, when he joined as safety director and pilot. He moved into the COO and EVP role in 2021 and was instrumental in the company’s expansion over the past few years, according to the release.
