CSP Staff
Welcome to the Convenience-Store Women (CSW) People Roundup, where women in the convenience-store industry are highlighted for career changes, promotions, retirements and more each month. Read on for news about retailers, suppliers, distributors and more.
Retailers:
Gate Petroleum Co., Jacksonville, Florida, promoted senior executive Misty Jackson Skipper to chief strategy officer, a newly created role. Most recently she was vice president overseeing marketing, external affairs and merchandising.
In her new role, Skipper will oversee the development and execution of strategies across the company’s multiple business divisions, ensuring sustainable growth and profitability, operational efficiency and competitive positioning, the company said. She will also manage corporate initiatives and special projects that require cross-functional collaboration as well as crisis management and disaster recovery efforts. In addition, Skipper will provide leadership and direction for Gate Lands, the company’s real estate development division, all marketing and communications activities for Gate, government affairs and the Gate Foundation.
Photograph courtesy of Kimberly James
Kimberly James has joined Amazon, Seattle, to lead the U.S. convenience categories for its cashierless Amazon Go convenience stores, according to a post on her LinkedIn page.
The former vice president of merchandising for Chicago-based bp posted on LinkedIn that she is “so thankful to the recruiting team that found me, and the remarkable leaders who have already made me feel at home.” An industry veteran in the c-store channel, James has held various positions in the merchandising, product and marketing space as well as operations.
Before bp, James spent over 15 years with Laval, Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.’s convenience-store chain Circle K, most recently as the head of global center of excellence for merchandising and marketing.
Suppliers:
The Hershey Co. has announced that Michele Buck will be retiring from her positions as president and CEO effective June 30, 2026. The chocolate maker said Buck intends to serve in her existing roles until her successor is appointed, at which time she plans to resign from the board and transition to a senior advisor role until her retirement.
Photograph courtesy of The Hershey Co.
Buck has been president and CEO since March 2017. She joined Hershey in 2005 and has held the roles of executive vice president and COO and president of the North America division. The company said the board has appointed a special committee to direct the search for its next CEO and will consider external and internal candidates, in partnership with a nationally recognized search firm. The Hershey Co. has appointed Veronica Villasenor as president of salty snacks. Villasenor is a Hershey veteran of 22 years and previously served as vice president of salty snacks. She succeeds Kristen Riggs, who is leaving Hershey after 20 years to pursue other opportunities, the company said.
Buffalo, New York-based Rich Products, which manufactures a variety of foodservice products ranging from pizza, seafood and salads to cakes, cookies and icings, has named Monica Novomisle as the company’s new executive vice president, chief people officer (CPO). Novomisle has over 20 years of experience working with companies like KraftHeinz, Diageo and Tory Burch. She joins Rich’s as a member of its executive team.
“I was immediately drawn to Rich’s unique commitment to people and purpose,” said Novomisle. “I believe when we nurture people to grow themselves and their career, they nurture and grow our business. That cycle is where the magic happens. I’m excited to join an organization that understands that dynamic and genuinely believes in the importance of putting people first.” The family-owned company operates in more than 100 countries and has annual sales exceeding $5 billion.
Convenience-store veteran Corey Nicely is leaving Knoxville, Tennessee-based Pilot Co. after six years for Sesh Products, according to a LinkedIn post. Nicely’s role is key account manager at Dover, Delaware-based Sesh Products, which makes modern smoking cessation products. Nicely, won CSP’s nonalcohol category manager of the year award in 2024, started at Pilot in February 2019 as a category coordinator, moving up over time to become category manager in July 2022, according to her LinkedIn profile.
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