Empire announced on Thursday that longtime president and CEO Michael Medline will be retiring from the company in May 2026.

Empire chair Jim Dickson said in a news release that Medline represented the “true embodiment of a resilient, adaptable and courageous business leader” during his more than eight-year tenure at Empire.

Medline joined the food and pharmacy retailer during a difficult transformation period and helped steer Empire and its banners – including Sobeys, Farm Boy, IGA and FreshCo – through a turnaround and into a period of growth.

“Our success has been the direct result of a great strategy, disciplined execution and the dedication and efforts of our 128,000 teammates as well as our excellent leadership team,” Medline said in the release. “Our company is stronger, more resilient and well positioned for ongoing success thanks to their efforts. My focus remains on continuing to build on the tremendous progress we have made over the past number of years as our board identifies Empire’s next CEO.”

Medline helped lead Empire through two successive transformation initiatives after joining in January 2017, including the five-year-long Project Horizon growth strategy that concluded at the end of fiscal 2023.

Under Medline’s leadership, the company invested approximately $2.5 billion over the past eight years in the growth and development of its store network and distribution assets.

Empire acquired Farm Boy in 2018 and Longo’s in 2021 in an effort to expand its presence in the Southern Ontario market. The company says the Medline-led expansion of its FreshCo discount banner into Western Canada and the development of the company’s multicultural strategy helped serve the needs of an expanding South Asian population.

Under Medline’s leadership, Empire also significantly invested in its ecommerce business, Voilà, and refreshed its loyalty program with the launch of Scene+ alongside co-owners Cineplex and Scotiabank.

Medline was an early advocate for the Grocery Code of Conduct and oversaw CSR initiatives for youth mental health and school food programs and a partnership with Special Olympics Canada.