Instacart says Chris Rogers, currently the company’s chief business officer, is set to become its CEO effective Aug. 15. The announcement follows news earlier this month that current CEO Fidji Simo plans to depart for OpenAI.
“Over the last four years, we’ve transformed Instacart into a growing, profitable, leading technology platform that’s helping reshape the grocery industry,” Simo said in a news release. “We’re building a generational company at the intersection of technology and food, and Chris is the right leader for our next chapter. He brings the kind of vision, operational excellence, and customer obsession that will help Instacart play an even bigger role in people’s lives — and I couldn’t be more excited to see how Chris scales the company’s impact from here.”
Rogers, who is expected to join Instacart’s board of directors once he becomes CEO, has more than 20 years of experience in consumer goods, technology, retail and media. He joined the company in 2019 and currently oversees all aspects of its commercial operations, including retailer relationships and expansions, ad sales, R&D, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, Instacart business and health.
“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. “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.”
Rogers joined the company following 11 years at Apple, where he served as managing director for Apple Canada, building a Canada-specific strategy to drive iPhone adoption, according to the release. He also led Apple’s carrier channel business and consumer retail business in Canada. He began his career at Proctor & Gamble, where he led relationships with grocery retailers in Canada.
Rogers serves on the board of Spins, a data, analytics and insights provider for organic, natural and wellness-focused CPG and retail industries. He is also a board member for the Ad Council, a nonprofit that leverages media, marketing and partnerships to drive public service campaigns to address critical social issues. He is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor of Business Administration.
