Only three CEOs have held the reins at Costco during the retail giant’s four decades in existence, points out Fortune’s Phil Wahba. And the latest freshman to enter the arena is none other than Ron Vachris, who started working at the membership warehouses when he was just a teenager.
Working for Costco for as many years as the goods store has been around—41 years—Vachris has climbed the ranks from the inside. He’s inherited an empire built upon hotdogs perennially priced at $1.50 and the lure of a bargain. Vachris, who took over at the beginning of the year, knows what made Costco a name (or Kirkland) brand—and isn’t necessarily looking to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the company’s winning strategy.
