Giant Eagle CEO Exits

Laura Shapira Karet has left her post as CEO of regional grocery chain Giant Eagle (Pittsburgh). Karet announced her exit via a statement issued March 21 by her law firm, Latham & Watkins LLP.

Karet’s departure from Giant Eagle marks the end of her family’s participation in the leadership of a company it co-founded more than 90 years ago.

Bill Artman, a longtime Giant Eagle executive who has held the role of President of Supermarkets since 2021, is now serving as interim CEO, according to the executive team listing on the grocer’s website.

The Giant Eagle board opted to remove Karet from her role “pursuant to her contract,” but did not provide an explanation for its decision, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

In the statement from Latham & Watkins, Karet said she made the decision “to move on to the next chapter of my life and leave Giant Eagle,” adding that she “will be taking some much-needed time with my family.”

“My tenure at Giant Eagle has been incredibly rewarding, and I have been privileged to guide the organization through intricate challenges and unprecedented achievements,” she said. “I am immensely proud of my colleagues and our collective efforts, which, thanks to our talent and tenacity, have allowed Giant Eagle to not only persevere but also flourish in recent years. Today, Giant Eagle boasts $11.5 billion in sales and operates nearly 500 stores.”