COO Atty McGrath has been elevated to CEO of Batavia, Illinois-based Aldi U.S. following the promotion of Jason Hart to global chief operating officer of Aldi South Group.
Hart will join the executive board of Aldi South as group COO, effective Sept. 1, helping oversee the company’s global operations in Salzburg, Austria.
During his decade-long leadership as Aldi U.S. CEO, Hart has led the rapid expansion and development of the Aldi brand, as the store count nearly doubled from 1,300 in 32 states to 2,500 across 39 states.
“I am honored to take on this new role with Aldi supporting our global business,” Hart said. “The growth and positive development of the Aldi brand we’ve achieved together in the U.S. is a tribute to our incredible teams across the business. I look forward to working with Aldi teams around the globe to drive our growth and success.”
McGrath has spent her entire 20-year career with Aldi, holding a variety of positions ranging from district manager, director of operations, division VP and most recently COO.
“On behalf of the entire Aldi U.S. team, I extend heartfelt thanks to Jason for his unwavering dedication and remarkable leadership,” McGrath said. “I am excited to build upon our momentum, expand our footprint and continue adapting to serve our customers.”
As part of its growth strategy, Aldi U.S. plans to open 800 new stores over the next five years, with a target of more than 225 locations opening this year, a record for the retailer.
So far in 2025, Aldi U.S. has opened 55 stores, with 75 more locations set to open this summer in key growth markets, including Arizona, California, Florida and South Carolina, as well as established markets such as the Midwest and Northeast.
[RELATED: Aldi Opens First 2 Stores In Las Vegas, Expanding Western Footprint]