Giant Eagle CEO Departs After 11-Year Run
Bill Artman has been named interim CEO of Giant Eagle, Inc., marking the departure of long-time CEO Laura Karet.
Karet has served as the company’s CEO for the past 11 years, and according to several sources, the Giant Eagle board determined to separate pursuant to her contract. Karet stated she is looking ahead to her next chapter and taking time with her family.
"My tenure at Giant Eagle has been incredibly rewarding, and I have been privileged to guide the organization through intricate challenges and unprecedented achievements," said Karet in a statement. "I am immensely proud of my colleagues and our collective efforts, which, thanks to our talent and tenacity, have allowed Giant Eagle to not only persevere, but also flourish in recent years. Today, Giant Eagle boasts $11.5 billion in sales and operates nearly 500 stores."
Artman will be taking on the day-to-day responsibilities in the interim. He has worked with Giant Eagle for the past 40 years, having recently served as its president of supermarkets, where he managed supply chain operations, retail innovation, real estate, merchandising, and more.
In a statement, Artman said his main focus will be to continue to support the team at Giant Eagle, continuing its legacy of passion, hard work, innovation, and competitive spirit. “It is a privilege to continue to work with the talented team at Giant Eagle and I look forward to get started in this new role,” said Artman.
“We are pleased to welcome Bill into this new role,” said Giant Eagle Director Bart Friedman, recently named chair of the board (the first non-family chair in Giant Eagle’s history). “His experiences throughout his career with Giant Eagle give him a deep understanding of the unique heritage of this business and position him well to drive toward future growth and continue in our proud tradition of commitment to serving our team members, customers, and communities.”
“We’re proud to see someone like him rise through our organization as a leader after starting his career bagging groceries as a customer service clerk,” Friedman added.
