AutoZone announces executive retirements and leadership changes

AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO) announced organizational changes involving the retirement of two long-term executives and the promotion of internal candidates to fill key leadership positions.

Bill Hackney, Executive Vice President of Merchandising, Marketing, and Supply Chain, will retire in November 2025 after a 40-year career with the automotive parts retailer. Rick Smith, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, will retire in January 2026, also concluding a 40-year tenure with the company.

Eric Gould, a 33-year AutoZone employee currently serving as Senior Vice President of Supply Chain, has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Merchandising, Marketing, and Supply Chain, succeeding Hackney. Denise McCullough, a 25-year company veteran and current Vice President of Transportation, has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Supply Chain.

AutoZone has hired Eric Leef as Senior Vice President of Human Resources to replace Smith. Leef joins from Hertz, where he served as Executive Vice President of Human Resources. His previous experience includes serving as Chief Human Resources Officer at Atria Senior Living Community and holding executive-level HR positions at General Electric.

"We are very excited to announce the promotions of Eric and Denise, and to have Eric Leef join AutoZone," said Phil Daniele, President and Chief Executive Officer, according to the company's statement.

Gould will continue reporting to Daniele as a current member of AutoZone's Executive Committee. Both McCullough and Leef will join the Executive Committee.

As of May 10, 2025, AutoZone operated 7,516 stores across the Americas, including 6,537 locations in the United States, 838 in Mexico, and 141 in Brazil.

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