Hy-Vee Ups Gosch, Tweeten to EVPs

Hy-Vee Inc. has promoted two senior leaders, Jeremy Gosch and Donna Tweeten, to EVPs, adding them to a team of six others selected to help guide the chain. Gosch and Tweeten also retain their respective chief merchandising officer and chief marketing officer titles.

The grocer will appoint Gosch and Tweeten, formerly SVPs, permanent members of its board of directors at its annual stockholders’ meeting in December. Additionally, it will appoint Tweeten to its board’s executive committee.

Gosch began his career with Hy-Vee in 1995 as a part-time clerk at the retailer’s Coralville, Iowa, store. He held a number of store-level positions, including second assistant manager, manager of general merchandise and manager of perishables, before being named store director in 2000 at the company's Eldora, Iowa, store. He was also a Hy-Vee store director in Sioux City, Iowa, and Winona, Minn.

In 2012, Gosch was promoted to  assistant VP of operations for Hy-Vee’s northeast district. In 2014, he moved up to VP of general merchandise and health and beauty care. The next year, Gosch became SVP of merchandising. The retailer added chief merchandising officer to his title in early 2016.

“Jeremy has been very successful in every area he has been asked to lead,” said Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee’s chairman, CEO and president.” I am very excited to see the new energy and great leadership Jeremy will bring to this very important position. He has already brought great drive and a can-do spirit with keen insight to complex ideas.”

Tweeten joined Hy-Vee in 2006 as assistant VP of communications. In 2011, Hy-Vee appointed her to the position of VP of brand image. She became VP of marketing and communications in 2013, and SVP of marketing and chief marketing officer in 2014.

Prior to Hy-Vee, Tweeten had a long career with The Meyocks Group, a marketing firm in West Des Moines, Iowa, and was president when Hy-Vee owned the company in 2002. Tweeten was one of Progressive Grocer’s Top Women in Grocery in 2011 and 2013

“Now is the right time to elevate the leader with the insight, skills and creativity to help guide Hy-Vee forward in our marketing and brand development," Edeker noted. "I know Donna will be a great example of an insightful, strong leader for years to come."

West Des Moines-based Hy-Vee Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 240 retail stores across eight Midwestern states, with sales of $9.3 billion annually.