Dive Brief:
- TravelCenters of America has hired Jason Nordin as its new CEO, effective immediately, the convenience retailer announced on Wednesday.
- Nordin joins TA from discount retailer Family Dollar, where he was president for the past year. He succeeds Debi Boffa, who resigned last month after nearly three decades with TA.
- Nordin’s hiring coincides with parent company BP’s ongoing strategy to cut expenses by $2 billion by 2026. The initiative has impacted TA’s organizational structure, as well as BP’s global c-store network, over the past several months.
Dive Insight:
When Boffa unexpectedly resigned in mid-October, BP appointed Greg Franks, senior vice president of mobility and convenience for the Americas, interim CEO. At the time, the company did not outline plans for naming a permanent replacement.
BP acted swiftly in tapping Nordin, who, before becoming president of Family Dollar, was chief of stores for parent company Dollar Tree, according to his LinkedIn bio.
Prior to that, Nordin notably spent six years as chief operating officer for Pilot Company — one of TA’s biggest competitors — during the 12 years he spent with the Tennessee-based retailer. As COO, Nordin oversaw more than 23,000 team members in several departments, including merchandising, foodservice, maintenance and field operations. He also managed Pilot’s dealer and license network of more than 120 locations, giving him a comprehensive view of the travel center ecosystem, according to the announcement.
Nordin will bring his expertise in the discount and travel center retailing arenas to TA, which is implementing a “targeted business improvement plan” to contend with “continued margin pressure,” CFO Kate Thompson said during BP’s earnings presentation last week.
In Wednesday’s announcement, Franks, who is continuing in his current role as SVP, said Nordin’s experience with Pilot and other major retailers has prepared him to become CEO of TA. Meanwhile, Nordin said he’s joining the Ohio-based retailer during “a pivotal moment” for the company.
“TA has a strong legacy of serving professional drivers and travelers across the country, and I’m excited to work with the team to build on that foundation,” Nordin said. “The opportunity to help shape the future of fleet mobility and deliver value to our guests and communities is incredibly energizing.”
