Family Dollar Hires Giant Eagle’s Winston as CFO

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores here said Tuesday that it has appointed Mary Winston as its new chief financial officer, succeeding Ken Smith, who is leaving the company.

Winston most recently was CFO at Pittsburgh-based supermarket operator Giant Eagle, a position she held for four years. A Giant Eagle spokesman told SN, “While we are unable to go into specific detail on personnel matters, we thank Mary for the meaningful contributions she made to our organization during her time with Giant Eagle, and wish her the best of future success.”

The move continues an overhaul of senior management at Family Dollar that began when the retailer named Michael Bloom at its new president last fall. The changes coincided with an investment from the private equity firm Trian Partners.

John Heinbockel, an analyst with Guggenheim Securities, New York, in a research note issued Tuesday said the appointment of Winston was “clear evidence … that a new Family Dollar is taking root.”

The company has turned over roughly half of its senior executives over the last 18 months, including naming a new vice president and assistant general counsel, Jon Broz, on Monday. Broz is a former Lowe’s executive.

Family Dollar said Smith, who spent 22 years with the company, would transition to a role as senior vice president of finance until October.