Corporate Governance

Philip B. Daniele, III was named President and Chief Executive Officer and appointed to the Board of Directors on January 2, 2024. Previously, Mr. Daniele served as Executive Vice President – Merchandising, Marketing and Supply Chain from 2021 to 2023 and Senior Vice President – Commercial from 2015 to 2021. Mr. Daniele has also held several other key management positions with the Company, including Vice President – Commercial Support, Vice President – Merchandising and Divisional Vice President – Store Operations.

Linda A. Goodspeed, 59, has been a director since 2013. She retired in 2017 as the Chief Operating Officer and a Managing Partner at WealthStrategies Financial Advisors, positions she had held since 2007. She had served as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of ServiceMaster from 2011 to 2014. From 2008 to September 2011, Ms. Goodspeed served as Vice President, Information Systems and Chief Information Officer for Nissan North America, Inc., a subsidiary of Nissan Motor Company, a global manufacturer of vehicles. From 2001 to 2008, Ms. Goodspeed served as Executive Vice President at Lennox International, Inc., a global manufacturer of air conditioning, heating and commercial refrigeration equipment. She is also a director of American Electric Power Co., Inc., and Darling Ingredients Inc., and was a director of Global Power Equipment Group through April 2018 and Columbus McKinnon Corp. through 2017.

Earl G. Graves, Jr., 59, has been a director since 2002 and was elected Lead Director in January 2009. He has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Black Enterprise, publisher of Black Enterprise Magazine, since January 2006, and was President and Chief Operating Officer from 1998 to 2006. Mr. Graves has been employed by the same company in various capacities since 1988.

Gale V. King, 65, has been a director since 2018. She was the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company from 2012 through July 2021 and served as the Executive Vice President – Chief Human Resources Officer from 2009 to 2012. Ms. King is also a director of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. and Unum Group.

George R. Mrkonic, Jr., 69, has been a director since 2006. He is the non-Executive Chairman of Maru Group, a London, UK based research, insight and advisory services firm. Previously, he was the Non-Executive Chairman of Paperchase Products Limited, London, UK, a retailer of cards, stationery, wraps and gifts in the UK, Europe and the Middle East, since 2005, and had been a director since 1999. Prior to that, he was President of Borders Group, Inc. from 1994 to 1997 and Vice Chairman of Borders Group, Inc. from 1994 to 2002. He is also a director of Brinker International, Inc., and Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. Mr. Mrkonic was a director of Syntel, Inc. from 2009 to May 2016.

William C. Rhodes, III was named Executive Chairman on January 2, 2024 and was first elected Chairman in June 2007. Mr. Rhodes served as AutoZone’s President, Chief Executive Officer, and a director from 2005 to January 2024. Prior to his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer, he served in various capacities within the Company since 1994. Prior to 1994, Mr. Rhodes was a manager with Ernst & Young LLP.

Jill A. Soltau, 54, has been a director since 2018. She served as the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of the J.C. Penney Company, Inc., from October 2018 to December 2020. She previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of JoAnn Stores Inc. from February 2015 to October 2018. Prior to joining JoAnn, Ms. Soltau served as President of Shopko Stores Operating Co. LLC and has held senior level positions in national and regional retailers, including Kohl’s and former Saks Inc. subsidiaries. Ms. Soltau is also a director of Southwest Airlines Co. and Kirkland’s, Inc.