Empire chief operating office Pierre St-Laurent replaces Michael Medline as the company's CEO, effective immediately.Supplied
Sobeys parent Empire Co. Ltd. EMP-A-T has appointed a company veteran as its new chief executive officer, effective immediately.
The Stellarton, N.S.-based grocer, which operates banners such as Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Farm Boy and discounter FreshCo, announced Wednesday that Pierre St-Laurent is taking on the top job, replacing retiring CEO Michael Medline.
Mr. Medline will remain with the company for a number of weeks to assist with the transition and will retire before the end of the year.
Mr. St-Laurent has been with the company for 34 years and most recently served as Empire’s chief operating officer.
“Pierre is a seasoned retail executive who has served as one of the key architects of our company’s success, and our board is unanimous that he is the right choice to create long-term value for all of our stakeholders,” Empire board chair James Dickson wrote in a news release.
“Choosing a leader from within our senior leadership ranks speaks to the depth of talent in our company and reinforces that our greatest strength lies in our people – those who know our business, live our values and have helped shape our success.”
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During his nine years as CEO, Mr. Medline led a turnaround at what was then a struggling company, simplifying its structure, cutting costs and increasing sales.
He also led the launch of its Voilà e-commerce business, accelerating the focus on online grocery shopping. That business has seen slower growth than expected and is still working toward profitability – a challenge his successor will now take over.
Mr. St-Laurent has experience in a number of roles in the company, including in finance, distribution and logistics, retail operations and merchandising.
“Pierre is a proven and passionate leader and a fantastic executive who has played a critical role in the transformation and growth of Empire over the past nine years,” Mr. Medline wrote in the release.