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Dollar General makes spate of promotions and hirings

New execs include Andrew Newkirk from Core-Mark, Monty Williams from Amazon, Rebecca Powers from Foot Locker

Russell Redman

June 1, 2022

2 Min Read
Dollar_General-corner_store.jpg
Altogether, Dollar General announced appointments for three new senior vice presidents and eight new vice presidents.Dollar General

A phalanx of promotions and hirings by Dollar General has yielded three new senior vice presidents and eight new vice presidents.

Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based Dollar General said yesterday that Andrew Newkirk has joined the company as senior VP of distribution, while Matthew Simonsen has been promoted to senior VP of real estate and development and Jackie Li to VP of private brands and global sourcing.

Newkirk — who will lead operations for half of Dollar General’s distribution network — comes to the dollar store chain from Core-Mark International, where he was senior VP of North America operations. Most recently, Simonsen served as VP of real estate and Li as VP and chief global sourcing officer.

Dollar General SVPs-Andrew Newkirk-Matt Simonsen-Jackie Li.jpg

Dollar General's new senior VPs include (left to right) Andrew Newkirk (distribution), Matthew Simonsen (real estate and development) and Jackie Li (private brands and global sourcing). (Photos courtesy of Dollar General)

Among the new vice presidents, Rebecca Powers and Monty Williams have joined Dollar General as VPs of distribution, and Matt Lucas has been promoted to that role. Williams comes to the retailer after over 15 years at Amazon, most recently as site leader, while Powers joins the company after more than 14 years at Foot Locker, the last two years as VP of North America distribution operations. A nine-year Dollar General veteran, Lucas previously served as senior director of perishable distribution center operations.

Also new at Dollar General is Mary Beth Hawthorne as VP of store operations for the Northeast region. She joins the chain from CosmoProf Beauty, where she was VP of North America for the beauty systems group at Sally Beauty.

Related:Dollar General pushes ahead with brick-and-mortar expansion

Dollar General said all of the new appointments are effective as of May 31. Other promotions by the company include Tyler Hickman to VP and division merchandise manager in perishables (previously senior director of perishables); Craig Marsh to VP of information technology (formerly senior director of IT); Kimberly Huffman to VP of human resources (previously senior director of HR); and Charlotte Hutchins to VP of human resources (formerly senior director of HR). 

Overall, Dollar General operates 18,356 stores in 47 states.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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