SAN ANTONIO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CST Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CST), one of the largest independent retailers of motor fuels and convenience merchandise in North America, today announced the following organizational changes in leadership positions.
Hal Adams, CST’s Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, has been named to the newly created position of President, Retail Operations, combining Marketing and Merchandising with Operations. Tony Bartys, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will now report to Mr. Adams.
Stephane Trudel, CST’s Senior Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions, will take the newly created position of Senior Vice President, Growth and Strategy, which will combine oversight over Acquisitions, Divestments, Strategic Planning and Business Analytics, Construction and Real Estate, and the Canadian wholesale operations, some of which was formerly under the oversight of Steve Motz, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, who will be retiring the first quarter of this year.
The goal of the Company’s 2020 vision is to grow its gross profit, while reducing the Company’s exposure to the volatility of commodity prices of oil and refined petroleum products. The Company’s 2020 vision is to increase gross profit with 70% of gross profit dollars coming from non-fuel sales and 30% from fuel sales. The strategy to achieve these goals is the Company’s four key growth pillars: 1) increasing merchandise sales and margins though expanded in-store offerings, including higher margin food offerings; 2) increasing the larger store portfolio organically through New-to-Industry (NTI) store construction; 3) growing the larger store portfolio through strategic M&A opportunities; and 4) maximizing fuel gross profit through purchasing strength and pricing strategies.
“By combining our Operations, Marketing and Merchandising group under the experienced leadership of Hal Adams,” said CEO and President Kim Lubel, “we will have a unified chain of command to support our high-reaching goals of increasing gains in inside store sales and margins, and providing best-in-class operations in both our legacy and new stores.” Ms. Lubel also noted that “by combining our organic NTI growth, acquisitions, divestitures, strategic planning and business analytics under Mr. Trudel, we can better coordinate and allocate our capital and resources to achieve aggressive large format store growth and expand our geographic presence, which are key components to achieving our 2020 vision.”
Hal Adams, President, Retail Operations, has over 25 years of retail experience, having served as the Vice President of Retail Merchandising at Valero Energy Corp. from 2001 until 2013 when he took on his most recent position as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at CST Brands, Inc. Mr. Adams began his career as a “graveyard shift” store associate in a Stop N Go store in Ventura, California. He has a B.A. in Business Economics, an M.B.A., and is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program.
Stephane Trudel, Senior Vice President, Growth & Strategy, previously served as the Senior Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions, and has nearly 25 years of experience in the fuel marketing business, including 18 years of service in Canada. He holds an Executive M.B.A. and a B.B.A.
Steve Motz, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, will be retiring after 33 years of service in the fuel and convenience industry. According to Ms. Lubel, “From launching our Canadian company-owned retail operations to expanding our fuel supply business with new partners like Shell and Phillips 66 and numerous acquisitions along the way, Steve has touched every aspect of our company operations across his tenure. He has been an invaluable mentor and leader and will be missed by all.”
Also retiring is Christian Houle, Senior Vice President of Canadian Retail. After 20 years of service to the Company and 40 years of retail experience, Mr. Houle has elected to retire in the first quarter of 2016. Mr. Houle has served as CST’s lead executive in its Canadian Service Center since its 2013 spin from Valero. Mr. Houle has provided a steady, calming presence through what has been a significant transformation in CST’s Canadian operations, and the Company is grateful for all his contribution.
Messrs. Adams and Trudel will report directly to CEO and President Kim Lubel.
About CST Brands, Inc.
CST Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CST), a Fortune 500 Company, is one of the largest independent retailers of motor fuels and convenience merchandise in North America. Based in San Antonio, Texas, CST employs over 14,000 Team Members at approximately 1,900 locations throughout the Southwestern United States, New York and Eastern Canada offering a broad array of convenience merchandise, beverages, snacks and fresh food. In the U.S., CST Corner Stores proudly sell fuel and signature products such as Fresh Choices baked and packaged goods, U Force energy and sport drinks, Cibolo Mountain coffee, FC Soda and Flavors2Go fountain drinks. In Canada, CST is the exclusive provider of Ultramar fuel and its Dépanneur du Coin and Corner Stores sell signature Transit Café coffee and pastries. CST also owns the general partner of CrossAmerica Partners LP, a master limited partnership, and wholesale distributor of fuels, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. For more information about CST, please visit www.cstbrands.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained in this release that state the Company’s or management’s expectations or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “believe,” “expect,” “should,” “intends,” “estimates,” and other similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. It is important to note that actual results, including CST’s ability to successfully execute its strategic plans, could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. For more information concerning additional factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or forecasted, see CST Brands’ most recent Form 10-K as available on the CST Brands’ website at www.cstbrands.com.