In another move to rebuild its executive leadership, Dollar General Corp. announced it has named a new COO and shifted merchandising responsibilities as a longtime executive departs.
Dollar General named Emily Taylor as the company’s chief operating officer. Taylor (pictured above) previously served as DG’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. In her new role, Taylor has responsibility for the company’s store operations, global supply chain, merchandising, marketing and digital, real estate and store development, decision science, and process improvement organizations.
In conjunction with Taylor’s appointment, Dollar General has promoted Bryan Wheeler to executive vice president and chief merchandising officer; transitioned Pooh Vichidvongsa to senior vice president, general merchandise manager; and elevated Shareeka Meadows to senior vice president, pOpshelf.
Wheeler leads all consumable and non-consumable merchandising initiatives, global sourcing, merchandise operations, global inventory management and in-store experience development for Dollar General and pOpshelf. He was previously senior vice president, general merchandise, prior to his new appointment.
Vichidvongsa, previously senior vice president of pOpshelf, now leads Dollar General’s family care operation, including paper, home cleaning, pet and health and beauty, as well as private-brand strategy.
After serving as vice president, division merchandise manager at pOpshelf, Meadows now oversees the entire pOpshelf line of business, including merchandising, marketing, and store operations at the DG division.
Beyond that, DG announced it has eliminated the position of executive vice president, strategy and development, and Steve Deckard, who held that post, has left the company.
Over the past few months, Dollar General has made multiple executive changes, including the announcement that Travis Nixon would take on the newly created role of senior vice president of artificial intelligence.
Of the latest moves, Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s CEO, stated, “Emily (Taylor’s) strategic vision and tenured understanding of the vital role DG plays in our customers’ lives will be invaluable as she expands her responsibilities as COO. During her tenure, Emily and her team have consistently enhanced the shopping experience both in-store and through various digital and delivery initiatives, elevated the Dollar General and pOpshelf brands, and improved operational efficiency, benefiting customers across the more than 20,000 communities we serve.”
Vasos added, “Elevating and expanding the roles of Bryan (Wheeler), Pooh (Vichidvongsa) and Shareeka (Meadows) recognizes the ongoing contributions of these three leaders, aligns with our strategic growth across merchandising and supports an operating priority to invest in the growth and development of our teams. With a strong, experienced leadership team in place across store operations, supply chain and merchandising, the company is well-positioned to advance under Emily’s leadership as COO.”
