Dollar General names Vasos chief merchant

Chain Drug Review, Nov 24, 2008

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp. has named veteran retail executive Todd Vasos division president and chief merchandising officer for its 8,300-store network.

Vasos will oversee merchandising, marketing and global sourcing for Dollar General, and will report to chief executive officer Rick Dreiling.

Prior to joining Dollar General Vasos was executive vice president and chief operating officer at Longs Drug Stores, where he was responsible for all pharmacy and front-end marketing, merchandising, procurement, supply-chain operations and advertising, as well as store development, layout, operations and construction. Before being named chief operating officer, he served as Longs' senior vice president and chief merchandising officer.

"Todd Vasos has a record of leading successful teams and implementing innovative merchandising solutions," says Dreiling, himself a onetime Longs executive. "He comes on board at an exciting time at Dollar General, and he joins a dynamic team. I look forward to working with Todd to reinforce Dollar General's leadership and its mission of serving others."

Vasos' appointment is the latest in a series of management changes made this year by Dollar General as part of a refocused operating plan. The moves are intended to build on the retailer's proven strengths while introducing greater operating discipline and a more strategic approach to growth.

Dollar General will continue to bolster and expand its executive team, to prepare for its next growth phase, Dreiling said earlier this year.

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