Advance Auto Parts, Inc. announced that its board of directors has appointed Shane O’Kelly as president and chief executive officer, effective Sept. 11. O’Kelly will succeed Tom Greco, who has served as president and CEO since April 2016. Greco announced his planned retirement in February 2023 and will stay on as an advisor to ensure a seamless transition.
O’Kelly has also been appointed to the Advance Auto Parts board of directors, effective Sept. 11. Gene Lee, interim executive chair of the board of directors, will continue in his interim role through the end of the year.
O’Kelly, 54, brings more than 30 years of operational, strategic development, integration and supply chain experience, including a proven track record of developing high-performing teams and cultures to drive results, the company said. Most recently, he served as CEO of HD Supply, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Home Depot, Inc. Prior to joining Home Depot, O’Kelly was the CEO of PetroChoice, one of the nation’s largest distributor of lubricants and lubrication solutions. Prior to that, he was CEO of AH Harris, a specialty construction supply distributor. Earlier in his career, he worked at The Home Depot and McKinsey and Company. In addition, O’Kelly served as a captain in the US Army and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree from The United States Military Academy at West Point.
“On behalf of the entire Advance Auto Parts board, I am delighted to welcome Shane to the Advance family. Following an extensive search over the past several months, we are confident that Shane’s robust operational background leading complex supply chain organizations makes him the ideal next leader for Advance,” said Lee. “His proven leadership, commitment to serving customers, and strong track record of disciplined execution across multi-unit businesses will enable him to lead Advance in the next chapter and help drive long-term value for our shareholders.”
“I am honored to be joining Advance at such an important inflection point for the company,” O’Kelly said. “I have great respect for the talented team members at Advance and all that has been accomplished, including the team’s relentless focus on delivering for customers while navigating the challenging competitive and macroeconomic environment. As we undertake an operational and strategic review of the business, I look forward to working alongside the entire Advance team and our board of directors to drive growth, operational excellence and value for all stakeholders.”
The company also announced that Tony Iskander has been named interim chief financial officer, effective Aug. 18. Iskander succeeds Jeff Shepherd, who departed from Advance. He has more than 25 years of finance and accounting experience and served as the company’s senior vice president, finance and treasurer since 2020. Prior to joining Advance in 2017, he spent more than a decade at Hillrom, where he held various finance roles of increasing responsibility. A search is being initiated, with the assistance of a leading executive search firm, to identify the company’s next chief financial officer.