Rouses' new CEO names new president
Rouses' new CEO names new president
Steve Black, previously president of Lucky’s Market, a specialty grocery chain focused on natural, organic and locally grown products, has been named Rouses Markets new president and chief operating officer effective this December. The announcement was made by Donny Rouse, who recently assumed his role as chief executive officer of the 56-year-old company. Rouse is the third generation to lead the family business.
Steve Black
Black brings 40 years of retail experience to the role. “Steve brings another level of expertise to our business,” Rouse said in a press release. “He has an enormous passion for the business, and key management experience at all levels from operations to marketing and IT.”
Black will be replacing Scott Miller who has been the company’s COO for the past nine years, during which time Rouses markets has tripled in size thanks to an aggressive growth strategy. The company’s most recent acquisition was LeBlanc’s Food Stores, which included nine locations in Baton Rouge and the surrounding area.
"Scott has been a tremendous asset to our team,” Rouse said in the release. “He helped us grow from 15 stores in Louisiana to 54 stores in three states. He has my family’s respect and colleagues respect, and our thanks for the success he brought us." Miller will remain as a consultant to the Rouse family during the transition.
Black and his family will be relocating from Boulder, CO, to Thibodaux, LA, where Rouses Markets has its headquarters. Before joining Lucky’s Market in Colorado, Black was vice president of operations, chief information officer and chief marketing officer of Sprouts Farmers Markets. He also has served as vice president of operations, IT and marketing for Sunflower Farmers Market and was the transitional executive during the Sprouts/Sunflower merger. His previous experience includes Bruno’s Supermarkets and United Supermarkets, where he spent the majority of his career.
“Steve has a great reputation for developing talent and inspiring people,” Rouse said in the release. “With his leadership skills, and the team we have in place now, I am extremely confident that we will continue to grow and thrive for generations to come.”
