People on the Move: Kum & Go, Parker’s & Hershey
NATIONAL REPORT – Retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in the convenience store industry are only as good as their management teams and employees. In this special roundup, CSNews Online runs down the most recent executive changes, new hires, promotions and people achievements happening in the industry.
The Hershey Co.
Hershey President and CEO J.P. Bilbrey was recently appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the newly established President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA). The private-sector advisory council will focus on strengthening the United States’ commercial relationships with African nations.
Bilbrey joins 14 other private-sector leaders on the council, which will provide expert guidance to President Barack Obama on strengthening partnerships with African countries to leverage opportunities for U.S. companies committed to supporting the continent for the long term.
Kum & Go LC
Jackie Nickolaus joined Kum & Go as commercial development manager. Previously, she was economic development coordinator for the city of Des Moines from 1995 to 2005, before joining Sherman Associates Inc. where she was instrumental in building out residential housing in new and renovated buildings in downtown Des Moines.
Mark VII Equipment Inc.
Mark VII Equipment, the North America subsidiary of WashTec AG of Germany, named Chris Andersen as CEO. Following a transition period, he will replace retiring CEO Steve Jeffs, who has served in leadership positions within the WashTec group for the last 10 years.
Mark VII also promoted Ryan Beaty to the position of executive vice president, sales and service; and Pierre-Yves Leclercq to the position of executive vice president, operations.
Parker’s Convenience Stores
Parker’s recently hired industry veteran Lance Ramsey as a financial analyst. In his new position, Ramsey is responsible for projecting cash flow, conducting market research, analyzing budget capital expenditures and coordinating financial reporting.
Ramsey joins Parker’s after working as a financial analyst and business analyst at Ricker Oil Co. in Anderson, Ind. During his tenure with Ricker Oil, he developed innovative forecasting models, advised senior management, and coordinated financial research to support strategic planning.
S&D Coffee & Tea
S&D Coffee & Tea hired Eric Nakata as vice president of product innovation. The graduate of the California School of Culinary Arts has worked in culinary research and development and product development innovation for 15 years.
A classically French-trained chef, Nakata worked with Master Chefs Walter Urweider, Michael Formachella and Luis Mendoza, and has cooked for a host of dignitaries and celebrities, including U.S. and foreign presidents, star athletes and Hollywood VIPs.
S&D Coffee & Tea also appointed Colombian consultant David Piza to support the company’s presence throughout the Americas. Based in Medellin, Colombia, he will bring expertise in value chain analysis and sustainable supply chains, and cultivate relationships with trading partners, coffee producers and communities from which S&D coffees are sourced.
Piza will monitor and evaluate S&D’s sustainable sourcing programs and capacity-building investments, ensuring maximum benefit to farmers, and will implement several key elements of S&D’s sustainable sourcing strategy, with a primary focus of improving economic sustainability at the farm level.
Tantus Tobacco
Steve Hubbard has been appointed vice president of sales for Tantus Tobacco, which has a presence in the vapor category with 24/7 and is the maker of Red Buck Cigarillos. The company has future plans of expanding its sales force even further.
With over 28 years of sales experience, Hubbard was formerly vice president of sales and operations for The Britt Hunt Co. LLC, which is the largest distributor of Hunt Brothers Pizza products, located in Nashville, Tenn.