At its annual Store Owners Convention, Fountain Tire announced Jason Herle will serve as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer, taking over from Brent Hesje, effective May 2022.
Herle has a diverse, 28-year history with Fountain Tire. He started his career with the company as an operations manager before moving into areas of real estate, expansion and wholesale. From 2019-2021, he served as Senior Vice President, Marketing, Information Systems & Supply Chain and he became Chief Operating Officer in 2021. Herle is an alumnus of the University of Alberta and a Chartered Professional Accountant. He served on the Board of Directors of the Western Canada Tire Dealers, is an external board member of Glassmasters Auto Glass, and a long-time volunteer with Junior Achievement.
A perfect candidate
“Jason is the perfect candidate to lead Fountain Tire,” comments current CEO, Brent Hesje. “As the company’s third CEO in the last 30 years, he has a legacy of seasoned leadership behind him. With the momentum of a strong business, powerful network and talented team, he has a bright future ahead. Jason’s experience throughout the organization provides a perspective that few others could bring to the role. I look forward to working closely with him in this new phase of leadership.”
“I am honoured and humbled to become CEO of Fountain Tire,” adds Herle. “As I follow in the footsteps of great leaders before me, I am excited to build upon the foundation they’ve established as we continue to live our core purpose: Helping people get there—safely, sustainably and successfully. I am grateful to Brent and the board for this opportunity and delighted to lead Fountain Tire’s next chapter.”
Ongoing leadership
Hesje will provide ongoing leadership to the company as Executive Chair of the Board of Directors, providing both oversight to the Board and mentorship to the CEO. Serving as CEO since 2005, Hesje is known for building a culture of trust, integrity, transparency and respect within the company. His passion to advance Fountain Tire’s ownership model, in which the majority of managers own equity in their stores, has been a key driver of the company’s expansion. His dedication to a partnership philosophy across the organization has further advanced local business relationships and developed community leaders throughout.
Fountain Tire was founded in Wainwright, Alberta, in 1956 and is headquartered in Edmonton. The company’s expanding infrastructure, deep-rooted corporate values and strong leadership have led to many accolades over its history, including maintaining Platinum Club member status of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since it first received the award in 1994.
For more information on Fountain Tire, visit fountaintire.com.
