Alimentation Couche-Tard, parent of Circle K convenience stores, has appointed Alex Miller as president and CEO, effective Sept. 6, according to a Wednesday announcement.
Miller has been Couche-Tard’s chief operating officer since January 2023 and will succeed incumbent Brian Hannasch as the company’s top leader.
Hannasch, who became president and CEO of Couche-Tard in 2014, is shifting to a “special advisor” role, where he’ll assist both Miller and Alain Bouchard, Couche-Tard’s founder and executive chairman. Hannasch will also leave Couche-Tard’s board of directors.
Miller’s rise to CEO and Hannasch’s transition plan have been in the works for the past year and a half, Bouchard said in the announcement, adding that Miller will become only the third CEO in Couche-Tard’s 45-year history.
“The Board and I have been planning for an orderly and seamless succession for several years, and we have carefully assessed the process and possible candidates,” Bouchard said. “It is important to us that our next CEO comes from within the business and fully embraces our values, culture, and growth-oriented mindset. For those reasons, we have the utmost confidence that Alex is the best person to be our next President and CEO.”
Miller joined Couche-Tard in 2012 as director of fuels, real estate and facilities, according to his company bio. He moved up the company’s ladder over the following 12 years, eventually becoming vice president of fuels, senior VP of operations and global fuels, EVP of commercial optimization, and EVP of North America operations and global optimization.
Prior to joining Couche-Tard, Miller worked for BP for 16 years in various operational, supply, business development and strategy roles, according to his company bio.
“I firmly believe that we are just at the beginning of our journey to become the world’s preferred destination for convenience and mobility, and I have full faith that with our engaged people and culture and long-term strategic plan, we will continue our incredible growth trajectory as we take market share and create lasting value,” Miller said in Wednesday’s announcement.
Hannasch, who joined Couche-Tard in 2001, will step down as CEO after leading Couche-Tard through the acquisition of nearly 7,800 stores over the past decade, Bouchard said in the announcement. Hannasch was the one of the highest paid CEOs in the c-store and fueling industries in 2023, netting about $18 million.
“I know Couche-Tard is in great hands with Alex as he has been one of my closest business partners for well over a decade, and we are working as One Team during this transition period,” Hannasch said in the announcement.
Laval, Quebec-based Couche-Tard operates more than 5,700 c-stores in the U.S. It is the second-largest c-store company in North America behind 7-Eleven.
Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the number of CEOs Couche-Tard has had.
