From True Value to Mills Fleet Farm
Heath Ashenfelter, the former True Value Company VP and chief merchandising officer, has taken on a top merchandising role at Mills Fleet Farm, the Appleton, Wis.-based farm and ranch retailer.
Ashenfelter’s title at Mills Fleet Farm is executive VP and chief merchandising officer. According to his LinkedIn page, Ashenfelter took on that role in February, which is before True Value publicly announced its intention to sell a 70% stake to private equity firm ACON investments.
Mills Fleet Farm operates 37 locations in the upper Midwest, offering an assortment that covers the wide ranging areas of “life, work, home and recreation,” according to its web site. The company has also been described as a value-based retailer of lifestyle merchandise serving suburban and farm consumers.
Founded in 1955, Mills Fleet Farm operated as a family business until it was acquired by investment firm KKR Capstone in January 2016. The CEO of Mills Fleet Farm is Derick Prelle, who ran KKR’s retail and consumer operations group before taking Mills CEO role in June of last year.
Heath Ashenfelter
At True Value, Ashenfelter climbed the executive ranks after joining the company in 2011 as a senior global product merchant. Prior to joining True Value, he worked as national sales manager at Ellsworth Adhesives. He also spent 10 years at The Scotts Company.
Ashenfelter has been with True Value since 2011. He has served in roles with increasing responsibility, including global product merchant. He has successfully led cross-functional teams focused on EDLP, New Items, Seasonal Inventory and Value Density.
Ashenfelter also previously served as national sales manager at Ellsworth Adhesives, and he spent 10 years at The Scotts Company, where he worked with major hardware, home improvement, mass market, grocery and drug retailers driving significant sales increases year over year.
At True Value, VP of communications Jean Niemi said the company has not named a replacement yet for Ashenfelter. She added that his departure was unrelated to the ACON deal.
Ashenfelter’s title at Mills Fleet Farm is executive VP and chief merchandising officer. According to his LinkedIn page, Ashenfelter took on that role in February, which is before True Value publicly announced its intention to sell a 70% stake to private equity firm ACON investments.
Mills Fleet Farm operates 37 locations in the upper Midwest, offering an assortment that covers the wide ranging areas of “life, work, home and recreation,” according to its web site. The company has also been described as a value-based retailer of lifestyle merchandise serving suburban and farm consumers.
Founded in 1955, Mills Fleet Farm operated as a family business until it was acquired by investment firm KKR Capstone in January 2016. The CEO of Mills Fleet Farm is Derick Prelle, who ran KKR’s retail and consumer operations group before taking Mills CEO role in June of last year.
Heath AshenfelterAt True Value, Ashenfelter climbed the executive ranks after joining the company in 2011 as a senior global product merchant. Prior to joining True Value, he worked as national sales manager at Ellsworth Adhesives. He also spent 10 years at The Scotts Company.
Ashenfelter has been with True Value since 2011. He has served in roles with increasing responsibility, including global product merchant. He has successfully led cross-functional teams focused on EDLP, New Items, Seasonal Inventory and Value Density.
Ashenfelter also previously served as national sales manager at Ellsworth Adhesives, and he spent 10 years at The Scotts Company, where he worked with major hardware, home improvement, mass market, grocery and drug retailers driving significant sales increases year over year.
At True Value, VP of communications Jean Niemi said the company has not named a replacement yet for Ashenfelter. She added that his departure was unrelated to the ACON deal.