SAVANNAH, Ga. — Enmarket is in the market for a new president as Brett Giesick has been named chief operating officer for Colonial Group Inc., the convenience-store chain’s parent company, the first person to serve in the role of COO for Colonial Group. Giesick has served as president of Enmarket since February 2017.
Giesick will also continue to serve as president of Enmarket as company leadership evaluates internal and external candidates to fill his role at the retail division.
- Enmarket is No. 57 on CSP’s 2021 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count. Watch for the full 2022 Top 202 ranking in the June issue of CSP magazine.
“Brett brings significant experience in many of the disciplines that I am looking for to complement my efforts,” said Christian Demere, CEO and president of Savannah, Ga.-based Colonial Group. “I will personally benefit from Brett’s experience and mentorship as I continue to grow in my role to lead this company forward. I am also excited about what this new role will mean for the company and the tactical benefits it will bring to Colonial.”
Giesick’s new responsibilities will include direct oversight of all subsidiary companies of the family-owned business, along with human resources responsibility for the group. Along with Enmarket, the diversified energy and port-related company includes Colonial Oil, Colonial Terminals, Colonial Fuel & Lubricant Services, Colonial Energy, Colonial Chemical Solutions, Colonial Towing, Savannah Yacht Center and Aqua Smart.
“It has been the honor of my career to be a small part of the Enmarket success story. I cannot properly express the level of talent and teamwork that our leadership, support and operation teams possess. Without their contributions, Enmarket would not be the success that it is,” said Gieseick
“Colonial Group and our subsidiary companies have experienced tremendous growth and evolution over the past seven to eight years,” Demere said in announcing Giesick’s promotion and the creation of the position he now fills. “I believe the role of chief operating officer is needed to better leverage the scale of the entire enterprise while ensuring we remain nimble and entrepreneurial. This will be a critical focus to balance as we continue to assimilate growth and strengthen our family culture.”
Enmarket employs more than 1,300 people and operates 129 convenience stores, 14 quick-serve restaurants (QSRs) and two fast-casual restaurants in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The retailer also recently cut the ribbon on its newest store inside the Junior Achievement Colonial Group Discovery Center at the Armstrong campus of Georgia Southern University in Savannah.
“While Enmarket will remain committed to growth, ongoing improvements, and most importantly to our culture of ‘enriching life,’ I am confident that my search for a successor will yield someone who will take our team to the next level,” Giesick said. “I have enjoyed my tenure as president of Enmarket, and leaving for a new role is bittersweet. That said, I look forward to this new challenge in working with our various Colonial Group subsidiaries and human resources.”
A fourth-generation, family-owned business, Colonial Group marked its 100th anniversary in 2021.
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