We often think of companies as iconic logos or catchy slogans. Rarely do we think of the people behind the big corporate machine and the human element that makes it all possible. CSG’s Trailblazer series puts a spotlight on individuals who have made their own way and empowered those around them. February is Black History Month, and we will be celebrating Black executives who have taken their industries by storm and guided legacy brands to a new future.

Our first trailblazer is one of the newest CEO’s in the restaurant industry, Sean Tresvant, the CEO of Taco Bell. Tresvant took the reigns as CEO on Jan. 1^st of this year after previously serving as the company’s Chief Brand Officer. He joined Taco Bell in January 2022 and quickly made a name for himself, earning the trust of his colleges and steadily expanding his role and responsibilities. Before he took over as CEO, Tresvant was in charge of global communications, international business, food innovation, and brand strategy and design. Taco Bell has been on the upswing the last few years and Tresvant is a major reason why. The company has renovated their menu with new options and returned classics that fans have been clamoring for. Tresvant has been credited for bringing back the popular Mexican Pizza dish and crispy chicken wings as well as successfully marketing the company as a value and lifestyle brand.

Tresvant worked at Nike for fifteen years before making the switch over to foodservice and he quickly adapted his knowledge. Nike is one of the largest footwear companies in the world and boasts a strong brand identity that customers feel is a lifestyle. While at Nike, Tresvant partnered with Michael Jordan for the Last Dance documentary and also partnered with Epic Games to bring Jordan brand shoes to players of the Fortnite video game. Tresvant brought those same ideas to Taco Bell and has found the pulse of the fast-food chains customers. Tresvant has leaned on timely celebrities to grow the brand by featuring a Super Bowl ad with artist Doja Cat and an ongoing partnership with comedian Pete Davidson for television ads. Tresvant has also been an innovator as he was ahead of the curve on restaurant subscription passes when he debuted the Taco Lover’s pass last year. Traditionally, companies seek CEO’s from outside the company, yet Taco Bell’s willingness to hire Tresvant internally after such a short tenure speaks to their belief in his abilities. It is clear that Taco Bell is in good hands, and we look forward to seeing what Sean Tresvant brings us next.

Our next trailblazer has had a longer tenure and is consistently ranked as one of the top executives in retail, Marvin Ellison, CEO, President, and Chairman of Lowe’s. Ellison became CEO in July of 2018 and has seen the company through multiple challenging periods. Lowe’s was not Ellison’s first tour with a hardware chain, having spent twelve years at rival The Home Depot with six of those years coming at the executive level. Ellison gained valuable experience as the head of sales, operations, and installation services. Ellison holds additional retail experience from fifteen years spent at Target and CEO experience from a three-year tenure as CEO of J.C. Penny prior to Lowe’s.

When Ellison took over in 2018 Lowe’s failed to meet their financial expectations, yet Ellison was able to turn things around the following year. His success was met with an even greater challenge during the pandemic in 2020. Hardware stores saw a mini boom at the beginning of the pandemic as homeowners turned to renovations and repairs; however, the industry eventually suffered the supply chain complications that plagued so many. Lowe’s large footprint is especially susceptible to supply chain disruption and possible store closures. Ellison successfully navigated this difficult period while also committing $25 million to support stores and associates while donating essential items to local hospitals. A major component of Ellison’s tenure has been his commitment to employees. Lowe’s has increased employee compensation by $3 billion since he took over and they have committed to investing another $1 billion over the next three years. Ellison is also looking to focus on making Lowe’s a one-stop shop for rural customers. The company is testing a Petco store-in-a-store and focusing on expanding product line to items like ATV vehicles while expanding their growing appliance category. Ellison has repeatedly proven his ability to connect with employees and customers and looks to have a strong vison for Lowe’s going forward. It will be no surprise to see Marvin Ellison on top CEO lists again at the end of 2024.

Sean Tresvant and Marvin Ellison both showcase just what accomplished executives can do when given the opportunity to succeed. Black representation in executive roles has been low in both the retail and restaurant industry, yet the winds of change are blowing, and representation and awareness are improving. Marvin Ellison is the only Black executive to be the CEO of two fortune 500 companies and hopefully others will join him in that distinction soon. Follow CSG while we continue to celebrate Black History Month with the spotlight on a new trailblazer each week.