Alex Miller will become president and CEO of Couche-Tard on September 6, the company has announced.

Miller will be promoted from his chief operating officer position. He will succeed Brian Hannasch, who is retiring his president, CEO and board positions.

Hannasch will continue as a special advisor to both Miller and Alain Bouchar, Couche-Tard’s founder and executive chairman of the board.

Montreal-based Couche-Tard develops, owns and operates convenience stores and fuel stations in 31 countries. The firm operates the retail outlets under the Couche-Tard and Circle-K banners, among others.

Miller will become only second president and CEO in the company’s 44-year history. Hannasch has served as president and CEO for the past 10 years and held executive roles with the company for 25 years altogether.

“The board and I have been planning for an orderly and seamless succession for several years, and we have carefully assessed the process and possible candidates,” said Bouchard. “It is important to us that our next CEO comes from within the business and fully embraces our values, culture, and growth-oriented mindset. For those reasons, we have the utmost confidence that Alex is the best person to be our next president and CEO.”

Miller has served as COO for the past 18 months. Before then, he was Couche-Tard’s executive vice-president of North American operations and senior vice president of commercial optimization, leading leading the firm’s global fuel and real estate businesses. He has 25 years of management experience, the last 13 with Couche-Tard.

Photo: CNW Group/Couche-Tard