BRAMPTON, Ontario — Sarah Davis will retire as Loblaw Cos. president on May 6. Loblaw also announced that it was bringing back George Weston, scion of the Weston family that controls the company, as chairman and president. Weston will continue to serve as chairman and CEO of Loblaw’s parent company, George Weston Ltd. (GWL) He previously held the positions of Loblaw chairman and president from 2014 to 2017.

Loblaw also announced that Robert Sawyer will join the company as chief operating officer and that Richard Dufresne, president and chief financial officer of GWL, will expand his responsibilities to include becoming CFO of Loblaw. Sawyer, who has more than four decades of experience in Canadian retail, will have responsibility for the company’s retail divisions, supply chain and procurement.

The announcement came as GWL revealed plans to sell its Weston Foods unit, which manufactures baked goods.

“The sale of Weston Foods will allow me to dedicate renewed time and energy at Loblaw as we increase our momentum in both our bricks-and-mortar network and our leadership in digital and data,” Weston said in the March 23 statement announcing the senior management changes at Loblaw, Canada’s largest grocery and pharmacy operator, with corporate and franchise stores at more than 2,400 locations.

“In light of George Weston’s strategic decision to focus on retail and real estate, Sarah and I agreed that now is the right time for her to pursue her plans for an early retirement, which she first shared with me upon becoming president in 2017,” Weston said. “Sarah has made an invaluable contribution to the company, and I appreciate her leadership over the last 14 years. Her authentic, understated style, and commitment to the potential of others, have been hallmarks of her time with Loblaw. She has been an advisor and friend to many, especially to me. We wish her well.”

Davis has been with Loblaw in positions of increasing responsibility since 2007, during which time she played a crucial role in transforming the company from a regionally managed grocer into an omnichannel food, health and wellness retailer with $52.7 billion in revenue.

As president, Davis led the company to reduce costs by over $1 billion through productivity improvements. She expanded the company’s efforts in data and analytics, including the creation of the PC Optimum loyalty program.

“After 14 years at Loblaw, I am immensely proud of what the company has accomplished during my time here and look forward to the next chapter,” Davis said.