Retirements Lead To Shuffling of Hy-Vee Execs
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Ron Pearson has retired as chairman of Hy-Vee Inc. based here, turning over the job to chief executive Ric Jurgens. Pearson, 65, who will remain on the company's board of directors, served as the chain's c.e.o. for 14 years before stepping down in 2004.
Another executive change that will take effect Oct. 2, and also prompted by a retirement, is that of e.v.p. Charles Bell. The 40-year Hy-Vee veteran, who will leave the company in September, is one of three executive vice presidents who run the daily operations of the company along with Jurgens.
Additional executive changes at Hy-Vee include:
- Randy Edeker, v.p./marketing, who will become s.v.p./ retail operations. Edeker, 43, will oversee the western region, which includes 66 stores and four drugstores in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska. He has been with the company 25 years.
- Paula Correy, 42, v.p./perishables, who will assume Edeker's former duties as v.p./marketing. Correy joined Hy-Vee seven years ago after working for Von Maur department stores.
- Jon Wendel, v.p./general merchandise, who will become v.p./perishables. Wendel, 45, began working at Hy-Vee in 1978 and moved to the corporate office in 1995.
- Tom Watson, 42, v.p./petroleum marketing, will add general merchandise and pharmacy to his duties. Watson joined the company in 1980 and moved to the corporate office in 2000.
- Ron Taylor, who will become s.v.p./corporate procurement and logistics. He will oversee distribution centers in Cherokee and Chariton and five Hy-Vee subsidiaries: Perishable Distributors of Iowa; Lomar Distributing Inc. specialty foods; Florist Distributing Inc.; D&D Foods; and Bakery Manufacturing.
Another executive change that will take effect Oct. 2, and also prompted by a retirement, is that of e.v.p. Charles Bell. The 40-year Hy-Vee veteran, who will leave the company in September, is one of three executive vice presidents who run the daily operations of the company along with Jurgens.
Additional executive changes at Hy-Vee include:
- Randy Edeker, v.p./marketing, who will become s.v.p./ retail operations. Edeker, 43, will oversee the western region, which includes 66 stores and four drugstores in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska. He has been with the company 25 years.
- Paula Correy, 42, v.p./perishables, who will assume Edeker's former duties as v.p./marketing. Correy joined Hy-Vee seven years ago after working for Von Maur department stores.
- Jon Wendel, v.p./general merchandise, who will become v.p./perishables. Wendel, 45, began working at Hy-Vee in 1978 and moved to the corporate office in 1995.
- Tom Watson, 42, v.p./petroleum marketing, will add general merchandise and pharmacy to his duties. Watson joined the company in 1980 and moved to the corporate office in 2000.
- Ron Taylor, who will become s.v.p./corporate procurement and logistics. He will oversee distribution centers in Cherokee and Chariton and five Hy-Vee subsidiaries: Perishable Distributors of Iowa; Lomar Distributing Inc. specialty foods; Florist Distributing Inc.; D&D Foods; and Bakery Manufacturing.