People on the Move: VP Racing, Kraft & Ryko
NATIONAL REPORT -- Retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in the convenience store industry are only as good as their management teams and employees. In this special roundup, CSNews Online runs down the most recent executive changes, new hires, promotions and people achievements happening in the industry.
JACK LINK'S
Jack Link’s Beef Jerky named Tony Dunning as executive vice president of customer development. He will lead all sales activity for Link Snack brands in North America, focusing on customer and category growth and sales team development.
Dunning joins Jack Link’s with more than 30 years of sales experience and leadership, most recently from Kimberly-Clark North America where he was vice president of U.S. consumer sales and customer development.
KRAFT FOODS
Kraft Foods, based in Atlanta, appointed Mike Ridenour as customer vice president of industry development. He began his career in the food industry 29 years ago and has served in various management and strategic planning positions with leadership responsibility in multiple channels, including national, independent, drug and club retailers throughout the United States.
Ridenour most recently led the customer collaboration relationships for the Industry Development team at Kraft Foods and previously was customer vice president of the New York/New Jersey geographical sales team.
MATRIX CAPITAL MARKETS GROUP INC.
Matrix Capital promoted John J. Underwood to director in the Energy & Multi-Site Retail Industry Group. He joined the firm in April 2011 after a successful career at BP.
Since joining Matrix, Underwood originated and managed a number of successful transaction mandates, including the sale of the assets of Florida Oil Holdings to Circle K Inc., and the sale of Atlas Oil Co.’s Chicago-area BP assets to Lehigh Gas Partners LP and Parent Petroleum Inc.
He will continue to be responsible for new client development and managing all aspects of client transactions, including total company sales, asset divestitures, acquisitions, recapitalizations, valuations and strategic planning.
OHIO PETROLEUM MARKETERS & CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOCIATION
The Ohio Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association (OPMCA) named Bill Behrendt as director of regulatory affairs. In this role, he will advance the federal and state regulatory policy priorities of OPMCA and oversee government affairs.
Behrendt is knowledgeable in a wide range of regulatory policies, having previously served as the senior attorney rules analyst for the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR). Prior to his time at JCARR, he managed a state representative campaign.
RYKO SOLUTIONS INC.
Ryko Solutions, a provider of managed car wash systems in North America, announced that Steve L’Heureux transitioned out of his role as president and CEO and into the position of vice chairman of the company’s board of directors.
In his new role, he will help provide guidance on Ryko’s long-term growth plans, key strategic initiatives, and merger and acquisition opportunities. L’Heureux provided strong leadership for more than three years, helping the company almost double in size during that time period. Under his tenure, Ryko also completed six add-on acquisitions.
Ryko’s board of directors is currently conducting a search for a new CEO to continue the company’s growth trajectory and lead day-to-day operations.
VP RACING FUELS
VP Racing Fuels, based in San Antonio, appointed industry veteran Chris Wall as chief marketing officer. He will be responsible for developing and executing a long-term cohesive international strategic marketing plan that encompasses all VP divisions, including race fuel, consumer products, retail branding and specialty chemicals.
Wall comes to VP from Pirelli Tire where he headed the marketing department for its motorcycle division for more than a decade. Prior to that, Wall held key positions in advertising and public relations at Porsche Cars North America and Yamaha Motor Corp.