At the end of the day Thursday, Jan. 22, Bi-Lo Holdings announced its choice for its new president and CEO. Ian McLeod, whose 30-year career in the food industry includes overseeing more than 2,000 Coles stores in Australia, will become president and CEO of Jacksonville, Florida-based Bi-Lo Holdings on March 2, the same day current president and CEO, Randall Onstead, will step down.
McLeod most recently was with Wesfarmers Group, one of Australia’s largest listed companies with diverse business operations. He joined Wesfarmers in early 2008 as CEO of Coles Ltd., a chain of 2,200 stores, including 760 supermarkets as well as liquor and convenience stores. According to Bi-Lo’s board of directors, at Coles McLeod “led a major turnaround in that business, improving the quality and value of products as well as the service and store standards offered to customers.”
Sales increased from $23.2 billion to $35.2 billion in U.S. dollars, the board added, “doubling profits (earnings before interest and tax) during six years and outperforming in the market for 20 consecutive quarters. We are confident he will be instrumental in driving continued growth and success at Bi-Lo Holdings as we execute our strategy and work to further enhance our customers’ shopping experience.”
Prior to Coles, McLeod was CEO of Halfords Group PLC, and before that spent 20 years with ASDA supermarkets, the British retailer taken over by Walmart in 1999.
Bill Nasshan, EVP and CMO for Bi-Lo Holdings, said in a letter to suppliers that accompanied the press release on the hire: “We are confident that Ian will leverage his experience to help build upon our reputation by serving our loyal customers even better, attracting new customers through great quality and value and further strengthening our competitive position within the industry.
“Most importantly, today’s announcement should have no effect on how we conduct business with you as we execute our strategy and work to further enhance our customers’ shopping experience. We are focused on maintaining our valuable relationships with you, continuing to support our stores and serving our loyal customers.
“Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. We look forward to achieving even more together in the future,” Nasshan said.
Bi-Lo Holdings is parent company of a total of 801 stores under the Bi-Lo, Harveys and Winn-Dixie names. It is the fifth-largest conventional supermarket chain in the U.S. and the second-largest conventional supermarket in the Southeast based on store count. In addition to its grocery stores, Bi-Lo Holdings has 146 liquor stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
McLeod said, “The Bi-Lo, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery store brands have a strong history and today serve our customers through the efforts of over 70,000 hardworking employees; I am excited to move to the U.S. and join the team at this important time.
“I look forward to leveraging my experience to help build upon Bi-Lo Holdings’ reputation by serving our loyal customers even better, attracting new customers through great quality and value and further strengthening our competitive position within the industry.”
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