SAN ANTONIO — H-E-B announced today that Chief Operating Officer Roxanne Orsak will be promoted to President effective January 2026, succeeding longtime president Craig Boyan, who will transition into a senior advisor role while continuing to serve on the retailer’s Board of Directors and its Board Oversight and Advisory Committee.
In her expanded role as President and COO, Orsak will report directly to CEO Howard Butt III. A 37-year veteran of the San Antonio-based retailer, Orsak will be the first woman to serve as president in H-E-B’s 120-year history.
“We are grateful for Craig’s consequential leadership that leaves a lasting impact on our company and culture,” said Howard Butt III, H-E-B CEO. “Craig has guided significant and continuous company growth while strengthening the people-based values that are so important to H-E-B. His commitment to innovation, collaboration, and focus on people has positioned us strongly for the future. Roxanne is the natural choice to serve as H-E-B’s next President. She has a deep understanding of our business, which she honed from a broad range of leadership roles at H-E-B during her 37-year tenure. Roxanne leads by example, embodies our culture, and recognizes the unique contributions of each Partner.”
A Career Built at H-E-B
Orsak joined H-E-B in 1988 as a store management trainee and has since held leadership positions across virtually every part of the company, including store operations, merchandising, procurement and format design. She played a pivotal role in launching the H-E-B Plus! She joined Format in 2004 and Joe V’s Smart Shop in 2010, and became COO in 2022.
“Throughout my time at H-E-B, our amazing Partners and leaders have inspired me to be my very best,” Orsak said. “At H-E-B, we are more than just a grocery store. We are committed to showing up for each other and working hard so we can run a business that improves the lives of our Partners, customers, and communities. I am honored to continue to shape the future of this great company with integrity, heart, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”
Orsak, who graduated with honors in agricultural economics from Texas A&M and completed executive programs at Harvard Business School and the University of Southern California, is also active in her community. She and her husband support rural schools and small businesses, as well as the South Texas Multiple Sclerosis Society.
She also acknowledged Boyan’s influence on her career and the company’s success. “I would like to thank Craig for the indelible mark he made on our company,” she said. “One of the hallmarks of his leadership style is that he is passionate about developing others to be the best versions of themselves. H-E-B owes much of our success over the years to his efforts.”
Boyan’s Legacy of Growth and Culture
Boyan joined H-E-B in 2005 as Chief Strategic Officer and was named president in 2010. Under his leadership, H-E-B grew annual sales from $10 billion to $50 billion, expanded into multi-format retailing, and invested heavily in e-commerce, supply chain improvements and Partner support. He also steered the company through natural disasters, economic disruptions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’ve always said that retail is a team sport, and at H-E-B, I’ve been lucky enough to work with the best in the business,” Boyan said. “I am so grateful to Charles Butt for inviting me to join the H-E-B family 20 years ago and it’s been my great honor to work with our impressive leadership team and Charles, Howard, Stephen, and Jeffrey Butt in leading this wonderful company. I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude to the thousands of inspiring H-E-B Partners who work hard every day, with servants’ hearts, to serve our customers and communities. I know that Roxanne will take H-E-B to new heights, and I look forward to working with her and our team in continuing to advance our company.”
Boyan will continue to provide leadership coaching and development in his new senior advisor role and will remain engaged in the retail industry as chairman of FMI—The Food Industry Association. He also chairs the Texas Biomedical Research Institute Board of Trustees and the Junior Achievement of South Texas Board, and he serves on the executive committee of Greater:SATX, San Antonio’s economic development organization.
Looking Ahead
The transition comes as H-E-B marks its 120th anniversary. Chairman Charles Butt praised both leaders for their impact. “This transition comes at an exciting time for H-E-B as we celebrate 120 years of serving Texans,” he said. “Under Craig’s leadership, our company has truly thrived – he has strengthened H-E-B and our team, and driven improvements across every area of our business. I am deeply grateful to Craig for his commitment to help make H-E-B such an admired company, one that is constantly evolving in the competitive retail marketplace, with a deep commitment to improving the well-being of our Partners and our communities. I am proud of Craig’s leadership and the far-reaching impact he has had on our company, and I am pleased we will have his support and guidance going forward. Roxanne has a strategic mindset, deep understanding of our business, and commitment to our Partners and customers, and I look forward to seeing her take on this new role. She has built her entire career at our company and is the right leader to take us into our next era.”
