The CEO and president of TravelCenters of America LLC (TA) is resigning, and in response the company is promoting three men to move up the executive ranks.
Thomas O’Brien's resignation as CEO and president is effective Dec. 31, 2017. He was appointed CEO in 2007.
Andrew Rebholz, a 20 year veteran of TA and currently the company's executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, has been appointed the new CEO.
Barry Richards, a 17 year veteran of TA and the current executive vice president will serve as president and chief operating officer.
William Myers, the company's senior vice president and chief accounting officer, has been appointed to fill Rebholz' role as TA’s new executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer.
Rebholz says: “I am excited to take on the leadership of this dynamic company. I believe TA has become a leader in the travel center industry by providing a complete package of services to our trucking company customers, including large parking lots, multiple food options and driver amenities, a large variety of convenience store goods, competitively priced fuel and industry leading expertise in truck maintenance and repair work, which I believe has the ability to significantly expand. I also expect that we will continue to offer high quality, value priced goods and services to our existing customers including in our Minit Mart convenience stores and our Quaker Steak & Lube automotive-themed restaurants, and that we will remain on constant alert to find ways to serve new customers.”
Richards says: “During the past few years I have sequentially led each of the major business lines at TA: TA non-fuel retail operations including over 800 restaurants and almost 500 convenience stores; TA’s commercial and retail fuel sales; and, recently, TA’s industry leading truck maintenance, repair and tire sales and services. I am excited to realize the potential for each of these businesses and I look forward to finding more ways to deliver value to our customers.”
O’Brien will remain on staff to help with the transition through June 30, 2018. He's also resigned as a managing director of TA’s board of directors effective Dec. 31, 2017. He will be replaced on the board by Adam Portnoy, CEO and president of The RMR Group Inc.
O’Brien says: “I am proud to have worked with so many dedicated and knowledgeable people who have brought TA’s customer service to a level that I do not believe was previously available, and is not now duplicated, in the travel center industry. I expect the platform that we together have created has positioned TA well to address any challenges that the future may present.”
In 2016 TravelCenters of America created TA Truck Service to focus on business as a commercial tire dealer. Modern Tire Dealer caught up with Richards at the 2017 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show for an update. Read about that here: TA Truck Service Turns Its Attention to Smaller Fleets
