Hy-Vee names new president and chief operating officer

Dive Brief:

Hy-Vee has named Jeremy Gosch as its new president and chief operating officer, the company announced on Friday. Gosch previously worked as co-chief operating officer and president of Hy-Vee’s retail division.
The company also announced that Andy Schreiner, formerly Hy-Vee’s chief accounting officer, is now senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, and that Aaron Wiese, who has overseen digital growth and served as co-COO, is now president of supply chain and subsidiaries and vice chairman of Hy-Vee, Inc.
The three promotions come amid the retirements of two longtime employees: Jay Marshall, Hy-Vee’s vice chairman and president of supply chain and subsidiaries; and Mike Skokan, executive vice president, treasurer and CFO.

Dive Insight:

After having two COOs for a short time, Hy-Vee has decided to name Gosch as the sole individual in the role. He takes over the role of president from Randy Edeker, who will continue to serve as chairman and CEO of Hy-Vee.

Gosch is the fifth individual to have the role of president at the Midwest grocery chain. Edeker took over the role in 2009 from then-CEO Ric Jurgens, indicating Gosch could be in line to eventually take over the top position at the company.

Gosch started working at Hy-Vee in 1995 as a part-time clerk at a store in Coralville, Iowa, and advanced through various management roles before joining the executive staff in 2012. In early 2018, he became executive vice president, chief marketing officer and co-COO. Later that year, he was named COO but then began sharing the title once again, this time with Wiese, beginning in April.

“One of my greatest responsibilities is to select the right leaders for our future, and I am confident Jeremy is that leader," Edeker said in a statement. "Jeremy has a strong knowledge of our business and our unique company, and he is excellent at implementing our vision and has a strong sense of urgency to meet the challenging times we live in today."

Wiese, who will take over Marshall’s role as head of supply chain in addition to serving as vice chairman of the company, also joined Hy-Vee’s executive rank in 2012 after nearly 20 years of working in stores and store management. He has overseen "multiple facets" of Hy-Vee’s health and wellness business as well as leading its Amber Specialty Pharmacy division, and recently headed up the company’s digital operations.

Schreiner began working as a part-time clerk for Hy-Vee in 1995 and became an accounting intern at the company four years later. He advanced through various accounting management roles and in 2015 became vice president of accounting before eventually being named chief accounting officer.

Marshall, who is retiring after 39 years at Hy-Vee, and Skokan, who spent 35 years at the company, were recognized at Hy-Vee’s annual shareholder meeting held last week.