7-Eleven’s closely watched search for its next chief executive in North America is finally over. On Thursday, parent company Seven & i Holdings named former beverage industry executive Mauricio Leyva as the convenience retailer’s new CEO, effective Aug. 1.
Leyva succeeds Joseph DePinto, who stepped down at the end of last year after more than two decades as CEO. Leyva will be tasked with leading 7-Eleven into its next era as the company faces pressure to improve innovation and profitability in the U.S. — its largest convenience store market in North America.
While thousands of store remodels and franchised site conversions will certainly be top of mind, Leyva will take the helm with a planned IPO looming in the background after Seven & i delayed the offering earlier this year. Much of Leyva's focus will likely be on positioning 7-Eleven for its eventual debut as a public company.
Becoming 7-Eleven's CEO marks Leyva's first foray into U.S. convenience retailing, meaning the industry may be unfamiliar with him. Here's a closer look at his background, which includes more than two decades in the consumer products industry and executive leadership roles at major beverage companies.
From beverages to consulting to convenience
Leyva joins 7-Eleven from global consulting firm McKinsey & Company, where he had served as a senior advisor providing strategic guidance to the firm's retail, consumer and packaged goods practice, according to his LinkedIn bio.
That role followed more than two decades at major food and beverage companies.
Before McKinsey, Leyva spent four years at Keurig Dr Pepper. He joined the company in 2020 as president of international and business development, overseeing its Canadian and Mexican business units while leading strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and other growth initiatives around the world. Two years later, Leyva was promoted to group president, a role in which he led the distributor’s coffee business, digitalization efforts and international segment.
Prior to joining Keurig Dr Pepper, Leyva spent a little over a year as CEO of Mexican dairy company Grupo Lala.
The bulk of his beverage experience, however, came during his decade-plus tenure with Anheuser-Busch InBev. Leyva held numerous leadership positions during his run with the brewing company, including CEO of Grupo Modelo, where he also helped scale Modelorama, one of Mexico's largest convenience store chains; president of the Middle Americas Zone; and chairman and CEO of SABMiller South Africa.
Early career
Leyva hasn’t always worked in the beverage and CPG space. For about a decade, he held numerous positions with telecommunications company América Móvil, according to his LinkedIn bio, spending the final five years there as marketing and sales vice president.
Personal details
Leyva holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia, did his postgraduate studies in International Commerce at ICN Business School in France and completed executive education programs at Stanford University and Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford.
