As two top Hy-Vee executives retire, the retailer has named a new president in addition to making other changes to its leadership team. Randy Edeker, who had served as president, CEO and chairman, will maintain two of his roles as Jeremy Gosch takes over the duties of president and chief operating officer.
Hy-Vee recognized the retirement of Jay Marshall, vice chairman and president of its supply chain and subsidiaries, following 39 years of service, as well as Mike Skokan, EVP, CFO and treasurer, after 35 years of service.
The retirements were announced at the West Des Moines, Iowa-based retailer’s annual stockholders meeting. Both Marshall and Skokan are members of the Hy-Vee Hall of Fame.
“Both Jay and Mike have been trusted leaders of our executive team for many years, and I could not be more thankful for the contributions they have made to our great company,” Edeker said.
Additional promotions include: Aaron Wiese, vice chairman of Hy-Vee Inc. and president of Hy-Vee supply chain/subsidiaries; and Andy Schreiner, SVP, CFO and treasurer.
Gosch
The new president and COO began his Hy-Vee career as a part-time clerk at the Lantern Park Plaza Hy-Vee in Coralville, Iowa, in 1995, and spent the next 12 years moving into retail operations management roles, including that of store director at multiple locations.
In 2012, he joined Hy-Vee’s executive staff when he was promoted to assistant VP of operations for the northeast region. Over the next six years, he held several executive leadership roles and in early 2018, he was promoted to EVP, co-chief operating officer, chief marketing officer and later that year he transitioned into chief operating officer. In April 2021, Gosch became president, retail operations and co-chief operating officer.
Gosch graduated from Aplington-Parkersburg Community High School in Parkersburg, Iowa, and earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Iowa. Gosch will become only the fifth president in Hy-Vee’s 91-year history. Randy Edeker will continue to lead Hy-Vee as chairman and CEO.
“One of my greatest responsibilities is to select the right leaders for our future, and I am confident Jeremy is that leader. Jeremy has a strong knowledge of our business and our unique company, and he is excellent at implementing our vision and has a strong sense of urgency to meet the challenging times we live in today,” said Edeker. “He has a great understanding of how we need to continue to evolve our company to grow, which will keep us on a path toward continued success.”
Wiese
The vice chairman of the board started his Hy-Vee career in 1993 while in college. After graduating, he served in various operations leadership roles. In 2012, Wiese joined Hy-Vee’s executive staff as director of real estate strategic planning, and in 2013 became director of health/wellness strategic planning.
In 2014, he was promoted to assistant VP of specialty pharmacy, and then VP of business development at Amber Specialty Pharmacy. Over the next six years, Wiese was instrumental in leading multiple facets of Hy-Vee’s health and wellness division, as well as serving as president of Hy-Vee subsidiary Amber Specialty Pharmacy for several years.
He was promoted to the EVP level in December 2020, and became president of digital growth and co-chief operating officer in April 2021.
Wiese attended Washington High School in Cherokee, Iowa, and received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Northern Iowa.
“Aaron is poised and ready to assume this important position to help me lead the company as vice chairman of Hy-Vee’s Board of Directors,” Edeker said. “He has a strong vision for the total breadth of our company and is extremely knowledgeable in many areas, including health care and digital development and growth. With Aaron helping me guide the company, we are positioned for continued growth and innovation.”
Schreiner
The new CFO began his career with Hy-Vee at the South Ottumwa Hy-Vee store in Ottumwa, Iowa, as a part-time clerk in 1995. He continued to work at South Ottumwa until he moved into Hy-Vee’s corporate office as an accounting intern in 1999.
Following his graduation from the University of Northern Iowa in 2000, Schreiner was selected as an internal auditor and joined the Hy-Vee executive staff in 2001. In 2004, he was promoted to assistant director, auditing services followed by a promotion in the accounting department as financial reporting supervisor in 2006. He continued to work in various leadership roles in the financial reporting department, and in 2015 was named VP of accounting and then later, chief accounting officer. He was inducted into the Hy-Vee Hall of Fame in 2008.
“The role of Hy-Vee’s chief financial officer has evolved over the past decade and truly is integrated into every aspect of what we do as a company,” Edeker said. “Andy is incredibly smart, and his strategic thinking and accounting expertise will play a huge role as our company continues to expand and innovate.”
Hy-Vee Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 285 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of more than $12 billion annually. For additional information, visit hy-vee.com.
