Meijer puts family man back in charge - Meijer Inc. promotes Hank Meijer to CEO - Brief Article

DSN Retailing Today, Feb 25, 2002 by Mike Duff

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. -- A family member once again stands at the helm of Meijer Inc., as the company has reconfigured its top management and returned it to a hierarchy reminiscent of the team that guided it successfully through the 1990s. This time it's Hank Meijer, the company's co-chairman, who has been promoted to ceo, undertaking a position his grandfather established 68 years ago. Joining him at the head of the leadership squad is Paul Boyer, who was promoted from executive vp to president and coo.

Prior to Meijer and Boyer assuming these positions, the role of president and ceo was carried out by one man, Jim McLean, who led the company in this capacity since he took the helm in 1999. McLean retired earlier this month.

On the top end of the leadership changes, chairman Fred Meijer, who shared the chairman's office with his sons and co-chairs Hank and Doug, will become chairman emeritus.

Last year, Meijer cut back staff at its headquarters in Grand Rapids with competitive pressure--particularly Wal-Mart supercenters--cited as prompting cost-cutting moves. While some observers speculated McLean had been forced out because of a slowdown in performance at the privately-held company spokesman John Zimmerman said the management transition had been part of a pre-determined plan. "All along, the whole intention was to get a Meijer back in the helm," he told DSN Retailing Today.

The executive structure now harkens back to the '80s and '90s when Fred Meijer acted as chairman, looking after the chain's long-term interests, and Earl Holton, as president, took care of day-to-day operations.

In accepting his new responsibilities, Hank Meijer noted: "We are embarking on a new era in the retail industry. Our new formats will be shaping the future of the supercenter concept, and I am honored to fill our family's historical leadership role. Over the past several years, we have positioned ourselves to implement our strategies to compete in this ever-changing industry."