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Sysco Corporation

Foodservice Distribution and Supply ChainFounded 1969
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Leadership History

Sysco: CEO History

4 leaders · 2003 to present

Who is the CEO of Sysco?

Kevin Hourican is the CEO of Sysco, in the role since 2020. The first chief executive was Richard J. Schnieders, from 2003.

Current CEO
Kevin Hourican (since 2020)
First CEO
Richard J. Schnieders (2003)
Leaders documented
4
Founded
1969
NameRoleFromToYears in role
Kevin HouricanPresident and Chief Executive Officer2020Present6
Tom BenéPresident and Chief Executive Officer201820202
William J. DeLaneyChief Executive Officer200920178
Richard J. SchniedersChairman and Chief Executive Officer200320096
Who was CEO of Sysco before Kevin Hourican?
Tom Bené was CEO of Sysco from 2018 to 2020, before Kevin Hourican took over in 2020.

Company Overview

Sysco is not glamorous, but it is embedded. Restaurants rarely want to manage dozens of separate suppliers when one distributor can deliver protein, produce, frozen goods, dry groceries, disposables, equipment, and menu support on predictable schedules. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Sysco makes money on the spread between what it pays suppliers and what it charges foodservice customers, plus delivery and service economics. It buys food and non-food products in bulk, stores them in temperature-controlled distribution centers, and delivers mixed orders to restaurants, healthcare, education, hospitality and government accounts. Margins are thin (operating margin was about 3.7% in fiscal 2026), so profit depends on route density, cases per stop, private-label penetration (Sysco Brand), specialty categories such as produce and protein, and the mix of higher-margin local independent customers versus large national chains served through SYGMA.

Kevin Hourican

President and Chief Executive Officer

2020 – Present

6 years (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

Became CEO on February 1, 2020 and led the response to pandemic closures, then launched the Recipe for Growth strategy focused on digital ordering (Sysco Shop), sales-force changes, specialty products and supply chain productivity. In 2026 he agreed to buy Jetro Restaurant Depot.

Legacy

Under Hourican, sales grew from $51.3 billion in fiscal 2021 to $84.6 billion in fiscal 2026. He came from CVS Health, where he was president of CVS Pharmacy.

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Tom Bené

President and Chief Executive Officer

2018 – 2020

2 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Bené aggressive expanded Sysco's international footprint by finalizing the massive £2.2 billion acquisition of Brakes Group in Europe.

Legacy

As CEO, he steered the company through the immediate, catastrophic collapse of the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 lockdowns before being abruptly replaced by Kevin Hourican.

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William J. DeLaney

Chief Executive Officer

2009 – 2017

8 years

Key Decisions & Impact

DeLaney became chief executive in 2009 and led the attempted merger with US Foods, which a court blocked in 2015, and the 2016 purchase of the Brakes Group.

Legacy

Sysco expanded in Europe and ran a multi-year business-technology programme under him. Tom Bene succeeded him at the start of 2018.

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Richard J. Schnieders

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

2003 – 2009

6 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Schnieders became chief executive in 2003 and reorganised the supply chain around regional redistribution centres.

Legacy

Sysco sales passed $37 billion during his term. Bill DeLaney succeeded him in 2009.

Source →

Challenges & Strategic Context

Sysco's model is exposed to restaurant traffic, food inflation, deflation, labor availability, driver wages, fuel costs, warehouse efficiency, spoilage, and customer credit. The Jetro deal also brings regulatory review, integration risk, and the challenge of keeping a cash-and-carry model distinct from Sysco's broadline delivery model.

Sysco CEO and Leadership FAQ

Who is the current President and CEO of Sysco Corporation?

Kevin Hourican is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sysco Corporation, appointed in February 2020. Prior to joining Sysco, Hourican served as Executive Vice President of CVS Health and President of CVS Pharmacy, overseeing retail operations across nearly 10,000 pharmacies.

Who was John F. Baugh and what was his tenure as CEO and Chairman of Sysco?

John F. Baugh was the founding visionary and Chief Executive Officer of Sysco from its inception in 1969 until 1985, continuing as Senior Chairman of the Board until his retirement in 1997. Baugh established Sysco's core culture of customer integrity and decentralized regional accountability.

Who served as CEO of Sysco during the proposed US Foods merger (2009–2017)?

Bill DeLaney served as CEO of Sysco from March 2009 until December 2017. DeLaney guided Sysco through the Great Recession, modernized financial systems, spearheaded the proposed $3.5 billion merger with US Foods, and executed the $3.1 billion acquisition of Brakes Group in Europe.

Who was Tom Bené and what was his tenure as CEO?

Tom Bené served as President and CEO of Sysco from January 2018 to January 2020. During his tenure, Bené focused on cost optimization and commercial sales realignment before stepping down when the board sought an external retail supply chain transformation leader.

Why did Sysco's board hire Kevin Hourican from CVS Health in early 2020?

The board sought an executive with deep expertise in digital customer engagement, retail omni-channel logistics, and automated supply chains. Hourican's track record running CVS Pharmacy's massive supply chain and loyalty programs made him the ideal candidate to modernize Sysco.

How did Kevin Hourican manage the existential crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic weeks after taking office?

Taking over as CEO in February 2020, Hourican faced a 60% collapse in restaurant orders within weeks due to lockdowns. He swiftly pivoted Sysco to supply retail grocery chains, eliminated order minimums for independent restaurants, and accelerated digital e-commerce deployments.

What is Kevin Hourican's signature "Recipe for Growth" strategy?

Launched in May 2021, Hourican's "Recipe for Growth" is an ambitious five-pillar transformation focusing on: Digital customer tools (Sysco Shop), Products (specialty assortment), Supply Chain (omnichannel fulfillment), Customer teams (culinary consulting), and Future horizons (cultural ESG).

How has Kevin Hourican reshaped Sysco's corporate culture and executive leadership team?

Hourican brought in top executive talent from outside the legacy foodservice sector, appointed Neil Russell as Chief Administrative Officer, elevated Kenny Cheung as CFO, and prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion across warehouse operations.

What awards and recognitions has Kevin Hourican received during his leadership?

Hourican has been recognized on Fortune's Businessperson of the Year watchlists and named among the top CEOs in the food and beverage industry for steering Sysco through unprecedented supply chain shocks to record revenues.

What executive role does Edward D. Shirley play on Sysco's board?

Edward D. Shirley, former CEO of Bacardi Limited and former Vice Chairman of Procter & Gamble, serves as the independent Non-Executive Chairman of Sysco's Board of Directors, ensuring robust corporate governance and shareholder alignment.

What is Kevin Hourican's approach to labor relations and driver shortages?

Hourican established Sysco Driver Academies—company-funded commercial driver's license (CDL) training schools—to train warehouse selectors into high-earning truck drivers, significantly reducing costly third-party freight brokerage fees.

What is Kevin Hourican's long-term corporate vision for Sysco?

Hourican aims to cement Sysco as the undisputed digital and physical food ecosystem leader, transforming the company from a traditional delivery trucking company into an indispensable digital partner for global hospitality.

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.