Mr. Boyan has been with the company since 2005 and previously served as its chief strategic officer and chief operating officer. He assumes the role of president from Bob Loeffler, who in announcing his retirement has volunteered to take the chief administrative officer role for two years before retiring.
“Craig, with his collaborative leadership style and keen insight into our customers’ needs, is well-suited to lead H-E-B in the new decade,” Mr. Butt said. “I’m confident that under his direction, our senior leadership team will ensure H-E-B’s continued growth.”
Before joining H-E-B in 2005, Mr. Boyan served as a consultant to the company as partner of the Monitor Group, where he headed their New York office. Monitor assists companies with corporate strategies, marketing strategies and company competitiveness. He is a graduate of Harvard College, and received an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
In other news, Martin Otto, chief financial officer, was also appointed chief merchant. He assumed his new duties from Steve Harper, who will continue as a consultant. Mr. Otto joined H-E-B in 1991. His past professional experience includes real estate investment banking and public accounting. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Harvard Business School.
With sales of more than $15 billion, H-E-B operates more than 315 stores in Texas and Mexico and plans to build 19 new stores in 2010 plus an additional distribution center in Temple, Texas.