AutoZone announced that Bill Graves, executive vice president, Mexico, Brazil and store development, will retire in early January 2019.
Graves joined AutoZone in 1993 after leaving the U.S. Army. He began his AutoZone career in supply chain as a project manager and progressed through the organization as vice president, distribution; vice president, supply chain systems; and senior vice president, supply chain, before assuming his current position in 2015.
“Bill’s leadership was integral in supporting our supply chain growth from 700 stores to 6,200 stores,” the company said in a news release.
Graves also led AutoZone’s entry into Brazil in 2012, according to the company.
“I am proud to have been associated with a company whose culture and focus on people and customer service is second to none,” Graves said. “I am also fortunate to have had great people around me; those who have supported and guided me and have helped me be the best AutoZoner I could be.”
Domingo Hurtado, currently vice president and presidente AutoZone de Mexico, has been promoted to the newly created position of senior vice president, international, responsible for AutoZone’s operations in Mexico and Brazil. Hurtado will report to CEO Bill Rhodes.
Hurtado is a 17-year AutoZoner who started his AutoZone career leading the organization’s expansion into Mexico. Under his leadership, AutoZone de Mexico grew from 13 stores to more than 550. It is now the largest auto parts retailer in Mexico and one of the country’s largest retailers in store count, according to AutoZone.
Prior to joining AutoZone, Hurtado was the director-general for Radio Shack de Mexico. Hurtado earned his post-graduate degree in marketing from the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración (IESA) in Caracas, Venezuela, and also holds a master’s degree in business administration as well as a degree in electronics engineering.
“I want to thank Bill for his many contributions to our organization over the last 25 years and congratulate Domingo on his promotion,” Rhodes said. “Both of these AutoZoners have played a significant role in our company’s growth and footprint. While we will certainly miss Bill, he created an organization that is well prepared to continue moving our company forward into the future. I am confident Domingo will successfully drive our cadence of growth and investment in our international ventures.”
