NEW YORK — Laura Sen, chief executive officer, BJ's Wholesale Club, was presented with a Steve Award for Women in Business at an event here this month.
Sen, who was named CEO of the warehouse-club retailer in 2008 and took over in that position in early 2009, was named the winner in the “Best Executive” category for service businesses employing more than 2,500 workers.
She began her career with the company in 1989, when BJ's had about 20 stores. Sen worked her way up to become executive vice president, president and chief operating officer before succeeding two-time CEO Herb Zarkin in that position in February 2009.
BJ's, headquartered in Westborough, Mass., currently operates over 190 stores in 15 states from Maine to Florida. It was recently taken private by investment firms Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners.
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business are a global business awards program for women executives, business owners and the organizations they run. Categories include Best Entrepreneur, Best Executive, Most Innovative Company and Best New Company of the Year.