Bi-Lo Holdings, parent company of Bi-Lo, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, has named a new chief executive officer.
Ian McLeod has been appointed president and CEO, effective March 2, the company said in a statement. McLeod succeeds Randall Onstead, who will remain in place through March 2 for the transition.
Jacksonville, Fla.-based Bi-Lo is the biggest grocery store chain in the Chattanooga area with 27 stores.
McLeod previously served as group commercial director for Wesfarmers Group. That business is one of Australia's largest listed companies and largest employers with diverse business operations, including supermarkets, discount department stores, home improvement and office supplies, and coal production.
"Ian is a proven leader with more than 30 years of expertise and a strong track record of driving profitable growth," the statement said. "In his time running over 2,200 Coles food, liquor and convenience stores...he led a major turnaround in that business, improving the quality and value of products as well as the service and store standards offered to customers."
Bi-Lo Holdings is the fifth- largest conventional supermarket chain in the U.S. and the second-biggest in the Southeast based on store count.
The company employs more than 72,000 people who serve customers in 801 grocery stores, 530 in-store pharmacies and 146 liquor stores in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina.