POWELL, Tenn. -- As Weigel’s Stores Inc. continues to grow in Knoxville, Tenn., and surrounding communities, the convenience-store company has promoted several key management personnel. William B. Weigel, CEO and son of one the company’s founders, has assumed the role of chairman, and Ken McMullen, president of Weigel’s since 2001, has taken on the role of CEO.
Weigel retains an active role in the company’s future growth and direction, the company said. He joined Weigel’s in 1960. That year, he was instrumental in establishing the drive-thru Jug ‘O Milk stores, followed by the opening of the first walk-in milk store in 1964 in Knoxville. He was the company’s general manager, vice president, president and CEO. Through his leadership, Weigel’s has grown from a home-delivery supplier of milk to an operator of 66 c-stores, as well as a dairy and bakery.
McMullen joined Weigel’s in 1981 as operations manager. His additional roles with Weigel’s have been vice president of operations, executive vice president and president, the first nonfamily member in that role.
In other moves, the company has promoted Douglas Yawberry, vice president of operations, to president and COO. He has been with the company for nine years. It is only the second time a nonfamily member of Weigel’s has been president.
Also, John Kelly has been named Weigel’s vice president of operations. Prior to joining the company in July 2017, he was vice president of operations and COO for Road Runner Markets, a 90-store convenience chain of in Johnson City, Tenn., for 13 years. Before that, he was division operations manager and national category manager with Sunoco and marketing manager with Coastal Inc.
Weigel’s operates 66 c-stores, a dairy and a bakery, all within a 100-mile radius of its corporate headquarters in Powell, Tenn.
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