Brian Hannasch, special advisor to Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., was named 2024-25 NACS chairman of the board. The election took place at the NACS board of directors meeting on October 7 during the NACS Show in Las Vegas, and Hannasch began his term at the conclusion of the Show. As NACS chairman, Hannasch also leads the NACS political engagement committee.

Hannasch served as president and CEO of Couche-Tard from September 2014 to September 2024, when he retired from that position. He also served four years as chief operating officer. Over the past 16 years, Hannasch has been involved in setting and executing the business strategy of Couche-Tard with the executive leadership committee.

Couche-Tard is a global leader in convenience and mobility, operating in 31 countries and territories, with more than 16,700 stores, of which approximately 13,100 offer road transportation fuel. With its well-known Couche-Tard and Circle K banners, it is one of the largest independent convenience store operators in the United States and a leader in the convenience store industry and retail fueling in Canada, Scandinavia, the Baltics, Belgium and Ireland. It also has an important presence in Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of People’s Republic of China. Approximately 149,000 people are employed throughout the Couche-Tard network.

Hannasch earned a B.A. in finance from Iowa State University and an M.B.A. in marketing and finance from the University of Chicago.

As NACS chairman, Hannasch also leads the NACS executive committee, which provides strategic direction and financial oversight to the association.

Committee members are:

• Vice chairman and treasurer: Annie Gauthier, CFO/Co-CEO, St. Romain Oil Co. LLC (Mansura, Louisiana)
• Vice chairman, at large: Varish Goyal, CEO, Loop Neighborhood Markets (Atherton, California)
• Vice chairman, legislative: Lonnie McQuirter, director of operations, 36 Lyn Refuel Station (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
• Vice chairman, research and technology: Charles McIlvaine, chairman and CEO, Coen Markets Inc. (Canonsburg, Pennsylvania)
• Vice chairman, at large: Tony Miller, president, retail, Delek US (Brentwood, Tennessee)
• Vice chairman, retail engagement: Chris Bambury, president, Bambury Inc. (Sonoma, California)
• Vice chairman, at large: Missy Matthews, owner, Childers Oil Co. (Whitesburg, Kentucky)

Also serving on the executive committee are 2023-24 NACS Chairman Victor Paterno, president and CEO of Mandaluyong, Philippines-based Philippine Seven Corp., who continues to serve as chair of the NACS international board, and 2022-23 NACS Chairman Don Rhoads, president and CEO of The Convenience Group LLC.

During the October 7 meeting, NACS also named new retail members to its board of directors:

• Lisa Blalock, VP convenience Americas, BP North America Inc. (La Palma, California)
• Mark Jordan, CEO, Refuel Operating Co. (North Charleston, South Carolina)
• Travis Sheetz, president and CEO, Sheetz Inc. (Altoona, Pennsylvania)
• Scott Zietlow, CEO and chairman, Kwik Trip Inc. (La Crosse, Wisconsin)

The NACS supplier board also named new leadership and members. Vito Maurici, senior vice president of sales at McLane Co. Inc., was named the 2024-25 chairman of the NACS supplier board, and Bryan Morrow, VP, brand sales at Chobani and La Colombe, was named chair-elect and as a supplier representative on the NACS board of directors.

New supplier board vice chairmen are:

• Kevin LeMoyne, senior vice president, customer leadership, The Coca-Cola Company
• Mike Gilroy, VP, trade development and sponsorship, Mars Wrigley
• Jim Hughes, sales director, malt and RTD/spirits, Gallo

New supplier board members are:

• Jordan Nicgorski, VP, U.S. strategic key accounts, Juul Labs Inc.
• Ryan Calong, SVP, national accounts, small format, Pabst Brewing Company