Loblaw promotes Sarah Davis to president
Company veteran replaces Weston
Sarah Davis, a C-suite veteran at Loblaw Cos. Ltd., has replaced Galen G. Weston as president of Canada’s biggest grocery chain.
It comes as part of a management shuffle that saw the Weston scion appointed chief executive of George Weston Ltd., the bakery and food distributor led by his father W. Galen for decades before he stepped aside last year as part of a staged succession plan. Weston, 44, had been president of Loblaw since 2014.
Davis was most recently chief administrative officer at Loblaw, with responsibility for supply chain and IT, including overseeing the final stages of the retailer’s arduous SAP point-of-sale software rollout. She was also responsible for real estate and strategy. Before taking over the role in 2014, Davis had served as Loblaw’s chief financial officer since 2010. Prior to that, Davis, 49, was vice-president and controller at Rogers Communications Inc.
“I am extremely pleased to welcome Sarah to the role of president,” Weston said in a statement. “She has an exceptional understanding of Loblaw. This, together with her strong financial background, particularly in operational roles, positions her well for this expanded leadership role.”
Davis, who assumes responsibility for Loblaw’s strategic execution and day-to-day operations, was not available for comment Thursday.
The shift follows the younger Weston’s move last September to chairman at George Weston Ltd. when his father stepped aside at age 75. Weston, the fourth generation of the family to lead the business, replaces Pavi Binning as chief executive of George Weston, which owns a controlling stake in Loblaw, and he will remain chairman and CEO of Loblaw.