Istvan Kapitany, global executive vice president of Royal Dutch Shell, has been named the 2019 NACS European Industry Leader of the Year. The award, sponsored by Mondelēz International, will be presented during the NACS Convenience Summit Europe in London on June 6.
“Mondelez International is honored to sponsor this prestigious award for our industry, and especially excited to present it to Istvan Kapitany,” said Rick Brindle, vice president, industry development at Mondelēz International. “Mr. Kapitany and his team continue to raise the bar for the convenience and fuel retailing excellence across the globe.”
The 30-plus year Shell veteran leads a team that oversees a global network of 43,000 locations in 80 countries with 500,000 employees. His commitment to making sure customers are at the heart of Shell’s retail operations is evident in his focus on anticipating and responding to customer needs when they frequent a Shell location, as well as transforming the quality of their shopping experience.
Kapitany also exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit of the convenience and fuel retailing industry. He began his career with Shell in 1987 as a store manager in Hungary, and held executive positions in Shell’s downstream operations as well as globally with Shell in Germany, Hungary, South Africa and the United States. Since 2014, Kapitany has served in his current role.
Kapitany’s leadership has brought global brands to Shell retail, including partnerships with Starbucks and Costa Coffee. In January 2019, Shell launched a program to deliver better food choices to on-the-go customers. Product packaging is made from recycled material (50% rPET), can be widely recycled and has clear labeling to help customers dispose of it responsibly.
On the forecourt, Kapitany is leading the expansion of Shell’s service station network, testing new convenience concepts and food offers and planning new site layouts to meet the needs of the evolving fuels market, including a strong focus on electric vehicle charging.
The Shell brand has a dominant presence in markets such as the U.S., Brazil, Japan and Germany but in some of the largest markets in the world the brand is just getting started. “As global chief, Istvan Kapitany and team are doing the hardest thing there is to do in retail: reposition the business to capitalize on future growth opportunities while maximizing sales and profit performance in the current landscape,” said NACS President & CEO Henry O. Armour, Ph.D. “We are very proud to name him as this year’s NACS European Industry Leader of the Year.”
Kapitany will accept his award on June 6 at the International Convenience Retail Awards gala and deliver a keynote address on 7 June at the NACS Convenience Summit Europe, followed by in an interactive conversation with Armour.
The NACS Convenience Summit Europe brings together convenience and fuel retailing industry professionals from around the world for new knowledge, new commercial connections and networking, and the opportunity to discover and discuss new ideas from retail store tours. A highlight of the event is the prestigious International Convenience Retail Awards, now in their 11th year, that recognize and promote convenience retailing excellence.
