On January 1, 2026, Frank Gleeson officially became the president and CEO of NACS, succeeding Henry Armour, who held the role for 20 years. Gleeson’s appointment was announced in July. He is the former president and CEO of Aramark Northern Europe, 2018-2019 NACS Chairman of the Board and is only the fourth CEO in NACS’ 64-year history.
“After 30-plus years in a business I’m so passionate about, it’s like winning the lottery for me to lead NACS and have this position in an industry that I have been part of for so long,” said Gleeson on the NACS Convenience Matters podcast ahead of the 2025 NACS Show. “We are already very well placed to navigate the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities for more market share. I’m optimistic our stores and the industry as a whole will become even harder to compete against.”
Gleeson has a well-formed background in foodservice and advocacy and is focused on carrying the industry forward into a bright future. Three key areas of focus for him include:
Foodservice: “Foodservice, in particular, is a significant repeat opportunity for our industry. …I often say, ‘You fuel your car once a week, but you fuel your body three or four times a day.’ That creates enormous growth potential that our member retailers and suppliers can capitalize on. Our industry has the huge advantage of location, value for money and trusted customer relationships. This will make foodservice a cornerstone of long-term sustainability and profitability for most progressive c-store operators.”
Advocacy: “The biggest threat we face as an industry is regulation. As NACS and as the convenience and fuel retailing industry, our job is to educate legislators, proactively and constructively, to help find solutions that work for the consumer and for the retailers, because we must coexist. What I have found during my time in advocacy is the more you have the conversation, the better chance you have of a good outcome.”
Technology: “In order to be innovative, ready for new categories and able to scale your business, you must have technology in place. The most progressive retailers start with what problem they’re trying to solve and how to use technology to help with it, whether that’s at checkout or in back-office operations. A great example is TruAge®—I worked closely with the TruAge team for over a year before becoming CEO of NACS. With TruAge, NACS looked at the future of age verification and how digital tools were developing. It came up with a solution that’s made both for today and can evolve in the digital ecosystem going forward.”
Read more in the upcoming article “Head in the Game,” a profile of Gleeson in the January 2026 issue of NACS Magazine.
Gleeson also sat down with NACS Media shortly after his CEO announcement. Read the conversation with Gleeson here.