Casey’s General Stores Inc.’s board of directors has unanimously elected Darren Rebelez, the company’s president, CEO and a current director, to the additional role of board chair. The appointment was effective June 2.
Rebelez succeeds H. Lynn Horak, who along with Diane Bridgewater, is retiring from the Casey’s board on Sept. 6, 2023.
The company also announced that the board unanimously elected Judy Schmeling, a director since 2018, to the role of lead independent director, also as of June 2. As part of the board leadership transition, which was the result of a comprehensive evaluation process, the board also enhanced its lead independent director duties, the company said.
“On behalf of the board, we are pleased to appoint Darren as board chair, in addition to his continuing role as president and CEO,” said Horak. “Darren has made a significant impact on the company since he joined in 2019, and the board believes his strategic vision and proven leadership capabilities make him the right person to lead the company into the future. The board is also pleased that Judy, with her decades of leadership both as an executive and in the boardroom, has stepped into the role of lead independent director.”
Casey’s board appointed Rebelez, former president of the IHOP restaurant chain, as Casey’s president and CEO effective June 24, 2019, succeeding Casey’s President and CEO Terry Handley, who retired from the company and board after a 38-year career with the retailer.
“I am honored by the confidence the board has placed in me to serve as its Chair, and I look forward to working closely with Judy, as our new Lead Independent Director, for years to come,” said Rebelez. “On behalf of the board and the entire Casey’s team, I also want to extend a sincere thank you to both Lynn and Diane for their combined 30 years of distinguished service and leadership on the board. They helped build Casey’s into the great organization it is today, and we wish them nothing but the best in their retirement from the board come September.”
- Casey’s General Stores is No. 3 on CSP’s 2023 Top 40 update to the 2022 Top 202 ranking of convenience-store chains by total number of company-owned locations.Look for the 2023 Top 202 in the June issue of CSP magazine and inCSP Daily News.
Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey’s operates approximately 2,500 convenience stores in 16 states. Founded more than 50 years ago, the company has grown to become the third-largest convenience store retailer and the fifth-largest pizza chain in the United States.
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