Hy-Vee Chairman and CEO Randy Edeker has named Aaron Wiese as Hy-Vee’s next CEO, effective Oct. 1. Wiese is currently vice chairman of Hy-Vee Inc. and president of the company’s supply chain and subsidiaries.
Jeremy Gosch will remain as president and chief operating officer of West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee, overseeing all of the retail operations for the business.
“Both Aaron and Jeremy have been trusted leaders of our executive team for many years, and I am thankful for the leadership they continue to provide our great company,” said Edeker, who made the announcement July 27. “With this announcement, I can continue to focus on Hy-Vee’s strategy and evolution in today’s changing environment while Jeremy can focus on overseeing our stores, and Aaron can focus on the day-to-day operations of the overall company.”
With the announcement, Wiese and Gosch will continue to report to Edeker, who will continue to serve as Hy-Vee’s chairman of the board.
Aaron Wiese
Aaron Wiese 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. He was promoted to his current position in December 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 ready to help me lead the company as chief executive officer,” Edeker said. “He has a strong vision for the total breadth of our company and is extremely knowledgeable in many areas. With Aaron as CEO, Hy-Vee continues to be positioned for incredible growth and innovation.”
Jeremy Gosch
Gosch 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 of retail operations and co-chief operating officer. He was promoted to his current position in December 2021.
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 is only the fifth president in Hy-Vee’s 92-year history.
“Jeremy has incredible knowledge of our retail business 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 as one of the best grocers in the U.S.”
Hy-Vee Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 285 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of more than $13 billion annually. It has more than 90,000 employees.
Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 10 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America’s Top 3 favorite grocery stores.
For additional information, visit hy-vee.com.
