Retailers
Convenience-store chain Stewart’s Shops has promoted chief operating officer Chad Kiesow (pictured above) to president. The promotion, effective June 1, marked the first time in the Ballston Spa, New York-based company’s 80-year history that Stewart’s Shops has a president who is not part of the Dake family, who founded the company in 1945. Kiesow also will remain involved in day-to-day operations as CEO.
- Stewart’s Shops is No. 23 on CSP’s 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by number of company-owned retail outlets. Jolley Stores is No. 148.
Suppliers
Newton, Massachusetts-based Paytronix has namedNonita Verma as its general manager. Members of the digital loyalty provider’s executive team are also expanding their roles. Charles Gray, former chief revenue officer, will become the vice president of product management. Pamela Robertson, who was brought on as chief marketing officer of Paytronix in late 2022, will take on a larger role in Access, which acquired Paytronix in 2024. She will become the vice president of marketing, hospitality for the Americas and will maintain her role at Paytronix. Digger McElligott has been named vice president of sales at Paytronix and Philippe Mesritz is now Access Group’s vice president of customer success, hospitality for the Americas.
Fifth-generation family business Red Diamond Coffee & Tea, Birmingham, Alabama, has promoted Emily Wood Bowron Forehand as executive vice president, overseeing the operating arm of the company, including production, distribution, marketing, as well as research and development activities. The company has also promoted William A. Bowron III to executive vice president. In his new role, he will lead all sales efforts for the company, including away from home, retail and ready-to-drink tea. In his expanded role, he will also serve as the senior executive leader over Red Diamond's Retail Distribution Division with a focus on expanding market share through retail channels.
Smokeless tobacco company Black Buffalo, Chicago, announced the re-election of Kit Dietz to its board of directors and the appointment of Viv Penninti as senior advisor. Dietz first joined the board in March 2023. He brings over four decades of experience in the nicotine and tobacco category, the company said. Penninti joined Black Buffalo in January in a newly established role as senior advisor. He will guide Black Buffalo’s data-driven sales and marketing strategies.
The Lemon Perfect Co. has named Laura-Lynn Freck (pictured above) as its new vice president of strategy. Freck brings over 20 years of experience driving insights and strategic planning for brands, including a decade at Red Bull and three years at Zevia. The zero-sugar lemon water brand also has named Mari Lee as its new chief marketing officer. Lee most recently served as senior vice president of Austin, Texas-based Nutrabolt, where she led global brand expansion of nearly 400 SKUs and helped contribute to 3,536% growth over five years for C4 Energy, the company said in a statement.
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, Tampa, Florida, has appointed Shannon Smith (pictured above) to senior director, community and stakeholder engagement. Smith joined Coke Florida nearly 10 years ago as director of sales for the Tampa market where she led sales execution activities across all retail channels.
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