WESTBOROUGH, MA - Christopher J. Baldwin is stepping out of his CEO position with BJ's Wholesale Club and into the role of Executive Chairman, effective February 2, 2020. Taking his place will be Lee Delaney, who currently serves as the President of BJ’s.
“This is an exciting time to be a part of BJ’s Wholesale Club, and I’m honored to lead this company and this great team,” said Delaney. “We have a strong growth strategy in place and will continue to focus on providing outstanding value and service to our members. I look forward to continuing to work with Chris as we take advantage of the opportunities ahead of us, producing profitable growth and shareholder value over the long term.”
According to a press release, Delaney joined BJ’s in 2016 as Executive Vice President, Chief Growth Officer. Before joining the BJ’s team, Delaney was a Partner at Bain & Company. He holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics from the University of Massachusetts.
“Lee’s strategic vision and leadership have been instrumental in the transformation of BJ’s Wholesale Club,” said Baldwin, who will serve as a strategic advisor to Delaney in his new role of Executive Chairman. “We’re on track to deliver our fourth consecutive year of record earnings with strong cash flow and membership at historic levels. Lee’s knowledge of all areas of our business and strong record of driving profitable growth make him the ideal leader for our company. I look forward to working closely with Lee to ensure a smooth transition as we continue our transformation.”
BJ’s Board of Directors will also be welcoming Thomas A. Kingsbury to its ranks. The former CEO of Burlington Stores, where he served from 2008 to 2019, replaces Cameron Breitner, who will be stepping down from the Board. Kingsbury’s resume includes positions like Senior Executive Vice President—Information Services, E-Commerce, Marketing, and Business Development of Kohl’s Corporation; President and Chief Executive Officer of the Filene’s/Kaufmann’s division of The May Department Stores Company; and serving as a member of the board of directors of Tractor Supply Company.
“I’m thrilled to have Tom Kingsbury join our Board. His deep understanding of value retail and track record of building shareholder value will be extremely valuable as we continue to transform BJ’s Wholesale Club,” Baldwin continued. “Cameron has played a crucial role in the transformation of our company. We are all very grateful for his support of our work.”
Congratulations to Christopher J. Baldwin, Lee Delaney, Thomas A. Kingsbury, and Cameron Breitner on these next steps in their careers!
