Refuel Operating Co., Charleston, South Carolina, has promoted Justin Mitchell, Derek Leskovic and Ian Bowers to executive roles, the convenience-store chain announced Monday in a LinkedIn post.
Mitchell has been named chief technology officer, Leskovic has been promoted to chief financial officer and Bowers has been appointed general counsel.
Mitchell joined Refuel in 2022 as vice president and head of information technology. During his tenure, he has led key digital transformation initiatives, including the company’s migration to cloud-based infrastructure, the adoption of AI-powered solutions and improvements to cybersecurity across the organization. He is also a member of CSP’s C-StoreTEC board.
Leskovic came to Refuel in 2019 as vice president of accounting. In his new role as CFO, he will continue to oversee the company’s finance and accounting functions. According to the company, his leadership has been instrumental in scaling financial infrastructure, improving reporting capabilities and supporting Refuel’s ongoing expansion.
Bowers joined Refuel in 2022 as associate general counsel and was later promoted to vice president of legal. He has overseen several departments, including procurement, environmental, loss prevention, risk management, development, construction and mergers and acquisitions. His new position as general counsel spans both legal and operational responsibilities.
“These appointments reflect our confidence in their ability to lead at scale—and highlight our commitment to recognizing and advancing internal talent when aligned with the needs of the business. We continue to foster a culture of growth and excellence, where leadership is earned and impact is rewarded,” the post said.
The convenience-store chain also promoted co-presidents Travis Smith and Jon Rier to co-CEOs in June. Mark Jordan, founder and current CEO, will step into the role of chairman of the board.
- Refuel Operating Co. is No. 38 on CSP's 2025 Top 202 ranking of convenience-store chains by store count.
Refuel has a history of growth through acquisition. Most recently, it acquired eight Mississippi c-stores. In 2024, Refuel's store count grew by three locations. In 2023, Refuel acquired eight convenience stores through two separate deals. In 2022, Refuel made several acquisitions, including two CEFCO stores from Fikes Wholesale Inc and the assets of Embark Energy.
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