BATAVIA, Ill. — In a move aimed at bolstering its leadership team to support its aggressive growth plans, Aldi has promoted Brent Laubaugh to serve as copresident of its U.S. operations, effective March 28. He will join current copresidents David Behm and Chuck Youngstrom, who will continue to serve in those roles. All three will report to Aldi chief executive officer Jason Hart.

Laubaugh has been with Aldi for more than 20 years; he most recently served as vice president of the company’s Saxonburg division, which covers western Pennsylvania and parts of New York and West ­Virginia.

“Aldi has a different style when it comes to grocery shopping, and that differentiation has helped make us one of the fastest-growing retailers in the U.S.,” Hart said in a statement. “To support our significant expansion, it was important that we strengthen our leadership team to ensure our success. With the addition of Brent to our team, we have the right leaders in place to continue growing the Aldi business.”

Aldi is in the midst of an accelerated expansion plan as it strives to have close to 2,000 stores by 2018. That would mark a nearly 50% increase in five years. As part of that growth plan, Aldi says it will create more than 10,000 new jobs at its stores, warehouses and division offices from coast to coast, and invest more than $3 billion to pay for land, facilities and equipment.

Aldi is set to open its first eight stores in Southern California on March 24, and another 19 stores are scheduled to open in that market between April and July. Aldi expects to have 45 stores in the region by year-end.