Sysco Corporation announced on July 18 that CEO Bill DeLaney will be succeeded by Tom Bené, currently president and chief operating officer. He will become president and as well as chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2018, and will join Sysco’s board of directors. DeLaney will serve as an advisor to Bené through the end of next year.
Bené joined Houston, Texas-headquartered Sysco, North America’s largest distributor of foodservice products, in 2013 and held a variety of roles at the company before being appointed president and chief operating officer in January of 2016. Since that time, he has been responsible for overseeing all of Sysco’s business operations, commercial functions and supply chain organization.
Prior to being hired by Sysco, Bené held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in marketing, sales, operations, franchise development and general management during a 23-year career at PepsiCo, culminating with his role as president of PepsiCo Foodservice.
DeLaney joined Sysco in 1987 and was named chief executive officer in 2009. He has served in several corporate and field leadership positions throughout his Sysco career, including executive vice president and chief financial officer immediately prior to assuming his current role as chief executive officer.