Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
January 11, 2001
Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported)
AUTOZONE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada
1-10714
62-1482048
(State or other jurisdiction
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)
Identification No.)
123 South Front Street
Memphis, Tennessee 38103
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(901) 495-6500
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
(not applicable)
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if
changed since last report.
Item 5. Other
On January 11, 2001, the Company made the announcement contained in the press release filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
99.1 Press Release dated January 11, 2001.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
AUTOZONE, INC.
Date: January 12, 2001
By: /s/ Harry L. Goldsmith
Harry L. Goldsmith
Senior Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel-Customer Satisfaction
EXHIBIT INDEX
99.1 Press Release dated
January 11, 2001
123 South Front Street · Memphis, TN · 38103-3607 · (901) 495-6500 · Fax: (901) 495-8300
| News:
For immediate release |
Media contact: Andrew
Burns
(901) 495-7313 Financial contact: Emma Jo Kauffman
|
AUTOZONE NAMES ODLAND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CEO
Memphis, Tenn. (January 11, 2001) -- AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO), today named Steve Odland, 42, as the company's third chairman of the board and chief executive officer.
Odland comes to AutoZone from Ahold USA, Inc., the leading supermarket retailer on the eastern seaboard, where he most recently held the position of chief operating officer. Prior to that, he served as president and chief executive officer for Tops Markets, Inc., one of Ahold's operating companies. Before joining Ahold, he served both Sara Lee Corporation and The Quaker Oats Company in various senior management capacities.
"We could not have found a better fit for AutoZone than Steve Odland. He's accustomed to a fast-paced environment and razor-thin margins, since he spent a number of years in the grocery business. His capacity for operating successfully under those conditions gives me great confidence in his ability to efficiently manage the business at AutoZone. He has proven to be a dynamic agent for positive change in a number of high-caliber organizations, and he brings a solid background in both marketing and merchandising we're delighted to have. We also consider his experience in the international arena and e-commerce to be a great advantage.
"I've worked closely with my successor, John Adams, and Tim Vargo, AutoZone's president and chief operating officer, in this search. I can sincerely say that John, Tim and the entire senior management team at AutoZone are genuinely excited about what Steve will bring to the table, " said J. R. Hyde III, AutoZone's founder. Three board members -- J. R. Hyde III, Edward Lampert and Andrew McKenna -- comprised AutoZone's CEO search committee.
Odland received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and holds a master's from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
"The AutoZone story is one of the most compelling in all of retailing. The opportunity to write the next chapter of that story is one I couldn't pass up. I've met some tremendous AutoZoners so far and the strength of the AutoZone culture is very appealing. I'm really looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work," Odland said.
John Adams, AutoZone's current chairman and CEO, will turn over the reins to Odland on January 29.
AutoZone sells auto and light truck parts, chemicals and accessories through 2,956 AutoZone stores in 42 states plus the District of Columbia in the U.S. and 13 AutoZone stores in Mexico. AutoZone also sells heavy-duty truck parts through 49 TruckPro stores in 15 states, and automotive diagnostic and repair software through ALLDATA. On the web, AutoZone sells diagnostic and repair information through alldatadiy.com, and auto and light truck parts through AutoZone.com.
Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking
statements. These statements discuss, among other things, expected growth,
domestic and international development and expansion strategy, business
strategies and future performance. These forward-looking statements are
subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including without limitation,
competition, product demand, domestic and international economies, government
approvals, inflation, the ability to hire and retain qualified employees,
consumer debt levels and the weather. Actual results may materially differ
from anticipated results. Please refer to the Risk Factors section of Form
10-K for the year ended August 26, 2000, for more details.
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