CARY, N.C. -- Several months after a contentious vote for control of its board of directors, in a move that helps beef up the company's petroleum and convenience store credentials, The Pantry Inc. has announced that Ross Pillari, a former chairman and CEO of BP America Inc., has joined the c-store company's board, effective May 21, 2014.
On May 21, the board increased the number of directors from nine to 10 and appointed Pillari with a term expiring at the company's next annual meeting of stockholders. Concurrent with his election as a director, the company appointed Pillari to the audit and finance and the corporate governance and nominating committees of the board.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Pillari and any other persons pursuant to which he was selected as a director, The Pantry said in a filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange (SEC). Additionally, there are no transactions involving the company and Pillari that the company would be required to report pursuant to SEC regulations.
"We are very excited to have Ross Pillari join our board of directors," said Thomas W. Dickson, chairman of The Pantry's board. "Through his impressive career in the fuel industry, including his service as chairman and CEO of BP America Inc., he has acquired knowledge and expertise that will be of great benefit to our board."
Pillari currently serves as an advisory board member on energy and utilities related projects of CVC Capital Partners Inc., a leading global private equity and investment advisory firm. Among the companies in CVC's large portfolio are Knoxville, Tenn.-based travel center company Pilot Flying J Inc. and Westborough, Mass.-based BJ's Wholesale Club.
From 2011 to 2014, Pillari served on the board of ZeaChem Inc., a private company that develops cellulose-based bio refineries for the conversion of renewable feedstocks into sustainable ethanol, fuels and chemicals.
In 1972, Pillari began his career at Standard Oil of Ohio (Sohio). In 1984, he joined BP, which acquired a 55% share in Sohio in 1969, and then moved to London in 1987 when BP acquired the remainder of Sohio's share, to head up the company's refinery assets in the Antwerp/Rotterdam region. Ross returned to the United States in 1990 and the next 18 years with BP were split between Naperville, Ill., London and Melbourne, Australia.
From 2001 to 2006, Pillari served as chairman and CEO of BP America Inc. He remained an advisor to BP through Dec. 2007.
In addition to his role as the senior BP executive in the United States, he was also a group vice president for BP plc, responsible for the Western Hemisphere region. Over a 35-year career at BP and its predecessor organizations, Pillari served in a variety of posts worldwide where his responsibilities included convenience store operations. These included group vice president of global marketing for the BP Group in London; senior vice president of marketing and oil director for BP Oil USA; and director of marketing for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Pillari has been a member of the Board of Directors of The American Petroleum Institute and The Alliance to Save Energy, and a member of The Baker Institute Energy Forum.
Based in Cary, N.C., The Pantry is a leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States and one of the largest independently operated c-store chains in the country. It operates 1,534 c-stores in 13 states under select banners, including Kangaroo Express, its primary operating banner.
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