PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle Inc. has named Bill Artman chief executive officer, a transition that got underway in March when he was named CEO on an interim basis following the departure of Laura Karet.

“Bill already has made a tremendous impact in his interim role, giving the board confidence that he is the right leader to take Giant Eagle to new heights,” chairman Bart Friedman said in announcing the decision. “Over the past five months Bill has established a new business strategy and assembled a strong executive leadership team comprised of an accomplished group of professionals with decades of relevant experience who have both a keen understanding of the company’s unique standing as a multi-format retailer and a strong vision for its future.

“Combined with Bill’s unique understanding of the history and heritage of the business and the markets in which it operates, we are confident this leadership team will carry the company into many new chapters of success,” Friedman added.

Artman began his career at Giant Eagle four decades ago as a grocery bagger. During his ascent, he fulfilled a number of leadership roles. In 2021, he was named president of supermarkets, overseeing supply chain operations, retail innovation, real estate and construction, retail operations, merchandising, independent retailing/non-banner, and culinary operations.

Artman assembled his leadership team through the promotion of several Giant Eagle executives:

• Terri Micklin was named executive vice president and president of GetGo, overseeing GetGo’s growth and expansion,while prioritizing its food-first approach and guest-obsessed culture. Micklin’s career has taken her to ExxonMobil Corp, and to Wawa Inc., where she spent more than 20 years spearheading construction initiatives,

• Jim Tsipakis, a registered pharmacist, was appointed  executive vice president of supermarkets and pharmacy. Tsipakis is expected to drive transformative strategies to create an exceptional and differentiated in-store experience for customers and continue to position Giant Eagle Pharmacy as a leading health care resource and destination.

• Dave Burnworth was named executive vice president and chief financial officer, where his financial acumen and strategic vision are expected to strengthen the company’s financial foundation and ensure its sustained growth in an evolving marketplace.

• Graham Watkins was appointed executive vice president, chief information and supply chain officer. Watkins has overswight of the company’s supply chain and warehouse operations, and is leading Giant Eagle’s information technology teams to advance its IT and technology initiatives.

• Justin Weinstein was named executive vice president and chief strategy and marketing officer, giving him a leading role in defining Giant Eagle’s corporate and go-to-market strategy. He will continue to lead the organization’s strategic planning, analytics, digital, and partnerships functions, while serving as Artman’s chief of staff. Weinstein also oversees Giant Eagle strategy teams responsible for enterprise marketing, retail media, and e-commerce.