Roxanne Orsak, Chief Operating Officer, to succeed Craig Boyan, who will transition to Senior Advisor in January 2026
H-E-B, one of the nation’s leading independent retailers and the largest private employer in Texas, announced today the promotion of Chief Operating Officer Roxanne Orsak to President, effective January 2026. Orsak will succeed Craig Boyan who shared his intention to retire at the end of 2026, after 20 years of leadership. Boyan will transition to a senior advisor role, remaining a member of the Board of Directors and joining the company’s Board Oversight and Advisory Committee. In Orsak’s new role as President and COO, she will report to CEO Howard Butt III.
“We are grateful for Craig’s consequential leadership that leaves a lasting impact on our company and culture,” said Howard Butt III, H-E-B CEO. “Craig has guided significant and continuous company growth while strengthening the people-based values that are so important to H-E-B. His commitment to innovation, collaboration, and focus on people has positioned us strongly for the future.”
Butt continued, “Roxanne is the natural choice to serve as H-E-B’s next President. She has a deep understanding of our business, which she honed from a broad range of leadership roles at H-E-B during her 37-year tenure. Roxanne leads by example, embodies our culture, and recognizes the unique contributions of each Partner.”
Orsak Is a Proven Leader with Deep Experience Across H-E-B
Orsak began her career at the company in 1988 as a store management trainee and rose through the ranks of store operations, merchandising, procurement, format design, and more. She has held leadership positions in almost every area of H-E-B’s business before being named Chief Operating Officer in 2022. She will be the first woman to serve as President of H-E-B, an especially meaningful milestone for the company, which was founded 120 years ago in 1905 by Florence Butt, a pioneering female entrepreneur.
Orsak has consistently embraced innovation and transformational change, enabling her to make meaningful contributions that advanced the company’s mission and growth, including the launch of the H-E-B Plus! store format in 2004 and the Joe V’s Smart Shop store format in 2010. Her leadership style is built on the belief that H-E-B’s number one priority is listening to and supporting its Partners so they can take great care of customers.
“Throughout my time at H-E-B, our amazing Partners and leaders have inspired me to be my very best,” said Orsak. “At H-E-B, we are more than just a grocery store. We are committed to showing up for each other and working hard so we can run a business that improves the lives of our Partners, customers, and communities. I am honored to continue to shape the future of this great company with integrity, heart, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”
Orsak graduated with honors from Texas A&M in agricultural economics and attended Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and the University of Southern California’s Food Industry Management Program. She is deeply involved in supporting rural schools and communities with a focus on education, youth development, and small business growth. Orsak and her husband support the South Texas Multiple Sclerosis Society which is dedicated to helping individuals impacted by the disease and funding research to find a cure.
Orsak added, “I would like to thank Craig for the indelible mark he made on our company. One of the hallmarks of his leadership style is that he is passionate about developing others to be the best versions of themselves. H-E-B owes much of our success over the years to his efforts.”
Boyan’s Collaborative Leadership Style Empowered Teams to Achieve Significant and Continuous Growth
Boyan joined H-E-B in 2005 as Chief Strategic Officer after serving as an advisor to the company for two years. He was appointed President in 2010. During his time at the company, H-E-B has achieved significant growth, increasing annual sales from $10 billion to $50 billion and developing one of the leading multi-format retailers in the country.
During Boyan’s tenure, the H-E-B team transformed how it serves customers, successfully introducing new store formats and better tailoring our stores to more effectively serve Texas communities. H-E-B has also made significant investments in our Partners and culture, as well as in price, eCommerce, and our supply chain to strengthen the company. Boyan also led H-E-B through many disasters, storms, and unprecedented challenges during the pandemic.
In January, Boyan will transition to a senior advisor role at H-E-B, where he will provide leadership coaching and development. He will remain engaged in the business, continuing to serve as a member of H-E-B’s Board of Directors, and will also join the company’s Board Oversight and Advisory Committee.
“I’ve always said that retail is a team sport, and at H-E-B, I’ve been lucky enough to work with the best in the business,” said Boyan. “I am so grateful to Charles Butt for inviting me to join the H-E-B family 20 years ago and it’s been my great honor to work with our impressive leadership team and Charles, Howard, Stephen, and Jeffrey Butt in leading this wonderful company.”
Boyan continued, “I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude to the thousands of inspiring H-E-B Partners who work hard every day, with servants’ hearts, to serve our customers and communities. I know that Roxanne will take H-E-B to new heights, and I look forward to working with her and our team in continuing to advance our company.”
Boyan will continue to support and help shape the retail industry as Chairman of FMI, the Food Industry Association. He also serves our local Texas communities, including as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Texas Biomedical Research Institute, as Chairman of the Board for Junior Achievement of South Texas, and as a member of the Executive Committee of Greater:SATX, the San Antonio economic development organization.
“This transition comes at an exciting time for H-E-B as we celebrate 120 years of serving Texans,” said Charles Butt, Chairman, H-E-B. “Under Craig’s leadership, our company has truly thrived – he has strengthened H-E-B and our team, and driven improvements across every area of our business. I am deeply grateful to Craig for his commitment to help make H-E-B such an admired company, one that is constantly evolving in the competitive retail marketplace, with a deep commitment to improving the well-being of our Partners and our communities. I am proud of Craig’s leadership and the far-reaching impact he has had on our company, and I am pleased we will have his support and guidance going forward.”
Butt continued, “Roxanne has a strategic mindset, deep understanding of our business, and commitment to our Partners and customers, and I look forward to seeing her take on this new role. She has built her entire career at our company and is the right leader to take us into our next era.”
About H-E-B
H-E-B, with annual sales of more than $50 billion, operates over 455 stores in Texas and Mexico. Known for its innovation, H-E-B celebrates its 120th anniversary this year. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience and low prices. H-E-B is based in San Antonio and employs over 175,000 Partners in Texas and Mexico and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities.
H-E-B is also deeply committed to supporting Texas communities — during everyday moments and in times of crisis — and is recognized as one of the state’s leading philanthropic contributors. H-E-B has been recognized in Temkin’s Trust Ratings, four consecutive years as the highest-ranked grocer in Dunnhumby’s Grocer Rankings from 2021 to 2025, and named Forbes’ Best Brand for Social Impact in 2025.
