Dive Brief:

• RaceTrac’s board of directors have promoted Natalie Morhous to CEO of the convenience store chain, effective Jan. 2, according to a Wednesday announcement.
• Morhous, who had been president of RaceTrac since 2019 and is a third-generation leader in the family-owned business, succeeds former CEO Max McBrayer, who has left the company after 32 years. RaceTrac did not provide details on McBrayer’s departure in its announcement, and a spokesperson was not able to provide further information by press time. 
• Morhous takes over RaceTrac’s top leadership position during a time of change for the company, which is coming off its largest acquisition in history and pushing into new markets around the U.S.

Dive Insight:

Morhous’ ascension to the top role at RaceTrac comes after more than a decade spent with the company. In addition to president, she’s also served as director of strategy and development, executive director of strategy and solutions, and executive director as well as vice president of RaceTrac’s transportation arm Energy Dispatch.

In her most recent role, Morhous worked with McBrayer on RaceTrac’s business decisions and strategy development, including its recent acquisition of Gulf Oil, according to the announcement.

As CEO, Morhous will lead Atlanta-based RaceTrac into a year that’s expected to see the retailer open its first locations in South Carolina and Ohio, further establishing the company as a major player around the country.

“Having observed Natalie’s leadership as RaceTrac’s president, we are confident in her ability to continue to lead our organization to even greater heights as CEO,” Max Lenker, a board director at RaceTrac, said in the announcement.

McBrayer, who became CEO of RaceTrac in 2019, first joined the company in 1991 as president of The Ethanol Corporation, a subsidiary of RaceTrac. In 1994, he became RaceTrac’s vice president of engineering and design and was later promoted to senior vice president of supply and distribution. Prior to becoming CEO, he was chief supply chain officer.

“On behalf of the board, we would like to recognize Max for more than 32 years of service and dedication to RaceTrac,” Lenker said. “Max has made significant contributions to RaceTrac’s success during his time and his leadership has positioned RaceTrac well as we move forward to the future.”

RaceTrac operates over 580 convenience stores across Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Tennessee. It also operates or franchises over 200 RaceWay locations in 11 states along the lower East Coast and the South.