Come January, San Antonio-based grocer H-E-B will achieve the milestone of welcoming the first female president in its history, company officials said.
Roxanne Orsak, who currently serves as the chain’s chief operating officer, will replace Craig Boyan, who’s stepping down from the role of president after a 20-year career with the grocer. Boyan will remain on the board of directors and retain positions on the board oversight and advisory committee, serving in a senior advisory role before retiring at the end of 2026.
As president and COO, Orsak will report to CEO Howard Butt III, heir to the legacy that bears his initials.
“Roxanne is the natural choice to serve as H-E-B’s next president,” Butt said in a statement. “She has a deep understanding of our business, which she honed from a broad range of leadership roles at H-E-B during her 37-year tenure.”
Orsak began her career with the company in 1988 as a store management trainee and quickly rose through the ranks, serving in leadership roles overseeing store operations, merchandising, procurement, format design and more. This well-rounded experience eventually made her a natural fit for COO, a position she got promoted to in 2022, according to company officials.
In a statement announcing her appointment, H-E-B noted that Orsak being named its first woman president is “an especially meaningful milestone for the company, which was founded 120 years ago in 1905 by Florence Butt, a pioneering female entrepreneur.”
Orsak graduated with honors from Texas A&M’s agricultural program before attending the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, followed by the University of Southern California’s Food Industry Management Program.
“Throughout my time at H-E-B, our amazing Partners and leaders have inspired me to be my very best,” Orsak said in a statement. “At H-E-B, we are more than just a grocery store. We are committed to showing up for each other and working hard so we can run a business that improves the lives of our Partners, customers and communities. I am honored to continue to shape the future of this great company with integrity, heart and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”
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