Instacart announced on Wednesday that its chief business officer, Chris Rogers, has been appointed as the company’s new CEO. The appointment is effective August 15. Rogers will also join Instacart’s board of directors.
The announcement comes a few weeks after Instacart CEO Fidji Simo shared that she’s stepping down to join OpenAI as CEO of Applications. Simo will remain chair of the board at Instacart.
In his role as chief business officer, Rogers oversaw Instacart’s retailer relationships and expansions, Ad Sales and R&D, Partnerships, Mergers & Acquisitions, Instacart Business, and Instacart Health.
Rogers joined Instacart in 2019 after nearly 11 years at Apple, where he served as the managing director for Apple Canada. He began his career at Procter & Gamble, where he led relationships with Canada’s largest national grocery retailers, Instacart says.
“Instacart sits at the center of how people shop, eat, and care for their families — and that’s always been what inspires me most about our mission,” Rogers said in a press release. “Together with our partners, we’re transforming the future of grocery shopping, but more importantly, we’re helping people solve real, everyday needs. We have a world-class team, deep partnerships, leading technology, and a bold vision for the future, and I’m honored to step in and lead Instacart’s next chapter.”
In a blog post, Rogers said that Instacart’s vision will remain the same under his leadership, and that the company will continue to focus on its “unwavering commitment to growing the pie for retailers and brands.” He also said that Instacart will work to provide more flexible earnings opportunities for shoppers on its platform.
In a letter to employees, Simo stated that Rogers has played a critical role in shaping Instacart and that she will continue to work with him over the coming months to allow for a smooth transition.
“We chose Chris because the company needs a leader who understands all our partners deeply, has immense operational experience, and can mobilize teams around our vision,” Simo wrote. “Chris knows this company. He helped shape it. And I know Chris will carry our mission forward with conviction, care, and ambition. I couldn’t be more excited for him to step into the role of CEO and lead Instacart’s next phase of growth.”
