Dollar General has announced that the company has named two key management promotions effective as of August 27, 2019, which aims to further strengthen the company for current and continued growth. Dollar General is an American chain of variety stores headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, which operates around 15,000 stores in the continental US.
Jeffery C Owen has been named Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for store operations, merchandising, and supply chain. Owen, a Dollar General veteran with more than 25 years of retail experience, returned to the company in June 2015 to serve as Executive Vice President of store operations overseeing nearly 16,000 stores throughout the 44 States in which Dollar General currently operates, as well as the real estate and new store development functions. During Owen’s time in this role, Dollar General has added more than 3,500 stores and increased sales by more than 35 per cent. Owen first joined Dollar General in 1992 as a store manager and served Dollar General in various roles of increasing responsibility. He earned a bachelor’s degree and master of business administration from Vanderbilt University, according to a statement by the company.
Steven Sunderland will succeed Owen as Executive Vice President of store operations, overseeing Dollar General’s nearly 16,000 stores, as well as the real estate and new store development functions. Sunderland joined Dollar General in September 2014 as Senior Vice President of store operations, overseeing stores predominately throughout the southern half of the country. Sunderland previously served as Senior Vice President of retail operations for each of Office Depot from November 2013 until January 2014 and OfficeMax Incorporated from May 2012 until November 2013, and as Chief Operating Officer for Bally Total Fitness Holding Corporation from 2011 until April 2012. Sunderland began his career in 1987 with Sears as a store Manager where he spent over 20 years in positions of increasing responsibility, eventually serving as Vice President of strategic operations. Sunderland earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Colorado College and a master of business administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
“This enhanced management structure positively positions Dollar General as we continue moving forward as a leader in our sector. Jeff and Steve’s leadership, insights and demonstrated performance will help support efforts to continue to capture growth opportunities, drive our short and long term strategic focus and best serve our customers. At Dollar General, investing in our employees as a competitive advantage by providing employees with growth and development opportunities is one of our core values and a cornerstone of our culture. I am confident Jeff and Steve are the right leaders for these positions, and I would like to congratulate them both on their new roles,” Todd J Vasos, Dollar General’s Chief Executive Officer said.
