Over 20 years of results developing successful brands and businesses into billion-dollar plus enterprises. Derek joined Yesway in June 2018 to help develop the fast-growing retail brand with over 425 locations into a retail force. He serves as Chief Marketing Officer and oversees all merchandising, marketing, advertising, private label, procurement, and brand engagement. He leads the efforts to establish relationships with Yesway’s supplier partners to drive aggressive growth and improve the organizations go to market strategic plan. He also further cultivates the growth and stewardship of the Yesway brand with a keen focus on the customer, ensuring the organizations digital, social, mobile, and loyalty initiatives resonate.
Derek has previously held positions at Rutter’s, Mid-Atlantic Convenience Stores, National Association of Convenience Stores, Giant Eagle Inc., Nabisco Foods, Goldman Sachs, and Procter & Gamble. He is an experienced brand developer, chief marketer, merchant, and innovator that has launched numerous packaged goods, CRM and retail brands and store formats.
He attended the University of Iowa where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, BBA in 1994. He received his MBA from the JL Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University with concentrations in Finance, Marketing, and Real Estate in 1998. He also completed the Oxford Strategic Leadership Programme at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford in 2022.