Dollar General president to retire

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. Dollar General earlier this week announced that David Bere, its president and chief strategy officer, has decided to retire at the end of the company’s current fiscal year — Jan. 29. Dollar General does not intend to replace Bere at this time. Rick Dreiling, chairman and CEO, will assume the duties of president. Bere took the helm at Dollar General as president in the fall of 2006 and as interim CEO in July 2007. Before that, he served on the company’s board of directors, a position he held since early 2002.

“[Bere] helped lead the company through times of tremendous change and growth,” Dreiling stated. “He has been an invaluable friend and partner to me since I joined the company. We all wish [Bere] and his family the best in his retirement.”

During his career, Bere led a number of companies, including Bakery Chef, McCain Foods USA and at the Quaker Oats Company, where he climbed the ranks for 17 years and became the president of the breakfast division and the Golden Grain Division.

Bere will continue to serve on the board of directors of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.