HOUSTON — William J. DeLaney, chief executive officer of Sysco Corp., will step down on Jan. 1, 2018, after 30 years with the company. Thomas L. Bené, president and chief operating officer, will succeed Mr. DeLaney and become president and c.e.o. effective Jan. 1, 2018 and also will join Sysco’s board of directors. Mr. DeLaney will serve as an adviser to Mr. Bené through Dec. 31, 2018.
“Bill has been instrumental to Sysco’s success and has taken decisive actions to oversee transformative change at Sysco through a series of investments and impactful commercial, supply chain and administrative initiatives,” said Jackie Ward, chairman of Sysco’s board. “Under his leadership, Sysco has established itself as the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products and is well-positioned for disciplined, profitable and sustainable growth. We are appreciative that we will continue to benefit from Bill’s expertise as c.e.o. through the remainder of the calendar year. Further, we are pleased that Bill will serve as an adviser and mentor to Tom for the year following and support his efforts to drive even greater value for Sysco’s shareholders.”
Mr. DeLaney joined Sysco in 1987 and was named c.e.o. in 2009. He served in a variety of corporate and field leadership positions during his career at Sysco, including executive vice-president and chief financial officer prior to assuming the role of c.e.o.
“As the preeminent and long-standing leader in our industry, totally committed to executing our customer centric strategy at a high level, Sysco is well-positioned to create value for our customers and shareholders for years to come,” Mr. DeLaney said. “Tom has played a leading and critical role in successfully executing our strategy and driving our strong business performance in recent years, and he — supported by our experienced and talented executive team — is the absolute right person to lead Sysco to even greater accomplishments in the future. I look forward to supporting Tom, and our Sysco team, as they continue to position the company for success.”
Mr. Bené joined Sysco in 2013, holding several roles at the company before being appointed president and c.o.o. in January 2016. Prior to joining Sysco, he held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in marketing, sales, operations, franchise development and general management during a 23-year career at PepsiCo, Inc., culminating with his role as president of PepsiCo’s North American food service business.
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead Sysco forward as its next president and c.e.o.,” Mr. Bené said. “We have a talented team of associates across the globe, and I am honored to lead this team as we build on our momentum as the industry leader. Our vision for being our customers’ most valued and trusted business partner will continue to be the core of our success. With our strong customer focused mindset, supported by operational capabilities, innovative product offerings and value-added services, I am confident that we will continue to drive Sysco’s growth, make it a great place for our associates to work and create shareholder value. Importantly, I want to thank Bill for his tremendous leadership, as well as his mentorship and friendship over the years. I look forward to transitioning with Bill, and I am appreciative of the opportunity to continue to benefit from his experience.”
