For the first time in its 120-year history, H-E-B will have a woman at the helm as president. The Texas-based grocer announced that current chief operating officer Roxanne Orsak will step into the role in January 2026.
Orsak, who joined H-E-B in 1988 as a store management trainee, has worked across nearly every facet of the business, from store operations and merchandising to procurement and format design.
She became COO in 2022 and will now serve as both president and COO, reporting to CEO Howard Butt III.
She succeeds Craig Boyan, who will retire at the end of 2026 after two decades in leadership, including 15 years as president. Boyan will remain a senior advisor, sit on the board of directors, and join the company’s oversight and advisory committee.
H-E-B noted the historical significance of Orsak’s promotion, pointing out that the company was founded in 1905 by Florence Butt, a pioneering woman entrepreneur.
Orsak is credited with spearheading key innovations during her tenure, including the H-E-B Plus! format in 2004 and Joe V’s Smart Shop in 2010.
“We are grateful for Craig’s consequential leadership that leaves a lasting impact on our company and culture,” Butt III said in a statement.
“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.”
Orsak said the company’s people and culture have guided her career from the start. “Throughout my time at H-E-B, our amazing partners and leaders have inspired me to be my very best,” she 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.”
H-E-B currently operates 455 stores across Texas and Mexico.
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