Pierre St-Laurent Appointed President & CEO of Empire Company Limited

Executive Summary

• Empire Company Limited announced the appointment of Pierre St‑Laurent as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
• The change follows the earlier announcement of outgoing CEO Michael Medline’s retirement; Medline will remain through December to ensure a smooth transition.
• Pierre St‑Laurent is a 34‑year veteran of Empire with extensive experience across finance, distribution, logistics, retail operations and merchandising, previously serving as EVP & COO.

Key Details

• Appointment: Pierre St‑Laurent appointed President & CEO of Empire Company Limited and its wholly‑owned subsidiary Sobeys Inc.; will also join the Board of Directors.
• Effective Date: Immediate; transition support from outgoing CEO Michael Medline through December 2025.
• Background: 34 years with Empire; former Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (2019‑2022); recognized as one of Canada’s “50 Best Executives” in 2020.
• Board Statement: Chair James Dickson highlighted the robust succession process, internal talent depth, and confidence in St‑Laurent’s ability to create long‑term value.
• Outgoing CEO: Michael Medline retiring after nine years; credited with transforming and growing the business, delivering significant shareholder value.
• CEO Quote: “What an incredible honour to lead Empire's 129,000 teammates… I am inspired by what we can achieve together…” – Pierre St‑Laurent.
• Company Context: Empire operates food retailing through Sobeys Inc., with approx. $31 billion in annual sales, $17 billion in assets and ~129,000 employees.

Notable Quotes

“After a robust and well‑governed succession process… we are delighted to have identified our next CEO from within our organization.” – James Dickson, Chair of the Board

“I am incredibly grateful for Michael's leadership over the past nine years.” – James Dickson

Materiality Assessment: Material – Positive (CEO transition is a material event with potential impact on strategic direction and shareholder perception).