BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. said Friday that its chief executive and president, Lee Delaney, had died unexpectedly.
The Massachusetts-based retailer said Mr. Delaney died Thursday “due to presumed natural causes.” Mr. Delaney was 49 years old.
BJ’s said its board named chief administrative and financial officer Bob Eddy as the company’s interim CEO effectively immediately. Board Chairman Christopher Baldwin—previously CEO of BJ’s—was named executive chairman, the company said.
Mr. Delaney became CEO of BJ’s in February 2020 and joined the board at that time. He started at the company as chief growth officer and executive vice president in 2016, according to the company’s website. In 2019, he became the company’s president.
“Lee’s strategic vision and leadership have been instrumental in the transformation of BJ’s Wholesale Club,” Mr. Baldwin said in late 2019 regarding Mr. Delaney’s CEO appointment.
