Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP), a leading automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, accessories and maintenance items, announced today organizational changes related to the Company’s priorities designed to transform the business - DIFM Acceleration, DIY Transformation, Availability Excellence and Superior Experience.
“The following leadership changes will help Advance Auto Parts move from words to action, and from acknowledging to committing to change,” said Darren Jackson, President and Chief Executive Officer. “In order to accelerate our business and gain some momentum, we as a company must act now.”
Effective immediately:
- Jim Wade, Executive Vice President, Customer Development Officer – Commercial, will lead DIFM Acceleration, which is defined as implementing the strategy to maximize the Company’s share of the Commercial business. In order to execute this Commercial strategy, a new team that is fully dedicated to growing the Commercial business has been established and will be led by Mr. Wade. Mr. Wade will continue to report to Mr. Jackson.
- Elwyn Murray, Executive Vice President, Customer Development Officer – DIY, will lead DIY Transformation, which is defined as reigniting DIY customer traffic and experience to redefine and transform the DIY business. Mr. Murray will continue to report to Mr. Jackson.
- Kevin Freeland, Executive Vice President, Supply Chain and Information Technology, will lead Availability Excellence, which is defined as delivering industry leading sourcing, supply chain and inventory management capabilities that exceed customer expectations. Mr. Freeland will continue to report to Mr. Jackson.
- Ken Wirth, newly appointed Senior Vice President, Customer Experience Officer, and Mike Marolt, newly appointed Senior Vice President, Customer Operations Excellence Officer will lead the Superior Experience Strategy. Superior Experience is defined as creating and delivering superior experience for customers through Team Members, in an operationally excellent environment. Mr. Wirth and Mr. Marolt will work in seamless partnership with the area leadership to be catalysts of change and teachers of the core Advance values. Wirth and Marolt will report directly to Mr. Jackson and will join the Executive Committee.
Mr. Wirth has been with Advance Auto Parts for more than 25 years. After serving in the United States Navy, he began his Advance career in 1983. He has served as a Store Manager, Division Manager, and since 1991 has held various Senior Vice President positions. Wirth most recently served as the Senior Vice President, Store Operations – Area 5. In his new role, Mr. Wirth will continue to the lead the Area 5 (Northeast) Team.
Mr. Marolt has more than 20 years of retail operations experience. He joins Advance from eq-life, a firm that provides consulting services with health care systems to develop new retail health care products, where he most recently served for two years as President and CEO. Prior to his position at eq-life, Mr. Marolt held multiple positions with increasing responsibilities at Best Buy, including Senior Vice President of Retail Operations and Services, Senior Vice President of Loss Prevention and Risk Management, Vice President of Loss Prevention and Risk Management, and Director of Loss Prevention and Risk Management.
About Advance Auto Parts
Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts is the second-largest retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States, based on store count and sales. As of December 29, 2007, the Company operated 3,261 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The Company serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets.
Contacts:
Shelly Whitaker, APR
shelly.whitaker@advanceautoparts.com
Direct
540-561-8452
Fax 540-561-6445
