Leadership

Shane O’Kelly joined Advance Auto Parts as President and Chief Executive Officer in September 2023. Prior to joining Advance, Shane was the CEO of HD Supply, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Home Depot, Inc. Prior to his appointment as CEO of HD Supply, Shane served as the CEO of Home Depot Pro, formerly known as Interline Brands, Inc. Before joining The Home Depot, Shane served as CEO of PetroChoice, the nation's largest distributor of lubricants and lubrication solutions. Prior to that role, he was CEO of AH Harris, a specialty construction supply distributor. Shane also worked early in his career at The Home Depot and as an engagement manager at McKinsey and Company.

Shane served seven years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army. During his service, he graduated from both Airborne and Ranger schools and served as a rifle platoon leader and company commander. He completed numerous deployments with the 1st Cavalry Division and the 325th Airborne.

Shane holds a bachelor’s degree from The United States Military Academy at West Point and master’s of business administration degree from Harvard Business School.

Sri Donthi joined Advance Auto Parts in April 2018 as Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and leads the Information Technology (IT) function at Advance. As CTO, Sri is responsible for Advance’s overall IT organization, technology platforms and strategic initiatives.

Sri has more than 25 years of experience leading and developing technology functions and reengineering IT infrastructure to support core business priorities. Prior to joining Advance, Sri worked at PepsiCo for 14 years and held number of leadership roles during his time there. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President, CIO for Frito-Lay North America where his team led a comprehensive transformation effort to digitize many aspects of their core business to improve efficiency, quality and overall service. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President, CIO for PepsiCo Asia, Middle East and North Africa, where he was responsible for all IT-related services. Before joining PepsiCo, Sri spent 10 years at Motorola in various IT leadership and operational roles. Sri has served as a director of Casey’s General Stores, Inc. since June 2022.

Sri earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India. He also holds a master’s degree in Computer Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology and an Executive MBA from Northwestern University.

Elizabeth Dreyer joined Advance Auto Parts as Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller in January 2024. Prior to joining Advance, Elizabeth served as Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller at Amyris, a public biotechnology company creating clean beauty consumer products and ingredients.

Prior to Amyris, Elizabeth served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer at Travel + Leisure Co., a public vacation ownership and exchange company. Earlier in her career, Elizabeth served in leadership roles at Edgewell Personal Care, formerly Energizer Holdings, Hillenbrand, Inc., Zimmer, Createc Corporation, ADESA, Inc. and Deloitte.

Elizabeth holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Tammy Moss Finley joined Advance Auto Parts in 1998 and has held her position as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since May 2016.

Previously, Tammy served as Executive Vice President, Human Resources, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary from January 2015 to May 2016 and Senior Vice President, Human Resources from March 2013 to January 2015. She was Vice President, Employment Counsel and Government Affairs from March 2010 to March 2013 and Vice President, Employment Counsel from September 2007 to March 2010. From January 2003 to September 2007, Tammy served as Vice President, Staffing and Team Member Relations. Her first role with Advance was Assistant Vice President, Human Resources, which she held from March 1998 to January 2003. Prior to joining Advance, Tammy worked as a labor and employment attorney with The Center for Employment Law, PC, and as a Staff Attorney with the Virginia Supreme Court. Tammy served on the Board of Directors of American National Bankshares, Inc. from September 2017 through April 2024. 

Tammy earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and a juris doctorate degree from the College of William and Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law.

Ryan Grimsland joined Advance Auto Parts as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer in November 2023. Prior to joining Advance, Ryan served as Senior Vice President, Strategy and Transformation at Lowe’s Companies, Inc. During his 17-year tenure at Lowe’s he held leadership roles across all aspects of the finance organization, including Senior Vice President, Corporate Finance and Treasurer; Vice President, Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis; Vice President Business Development & International and Vice President, Stores Finance. Prior to joining Lowe’s, he held positions in operations and finance at Haverty’s Furniture and UBS. 

Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree from High Point University and master’s of business administration degree from Benedictine University.

Kristen Soler joined Advance Auto Parts in July 2017 and has held her position as Executive Vice President, Human Resources since May 2023. This includes enterprise Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Previously, Kristen served recently as Senior Vice President, Human Resources for field and commercial teams. Additionally Kristen served as Senior Vice President, Human Resources for the supply chain and the corporate functions. 

Prior to joining Advance, Kristen served in human resources leadership roles at PepsiCo for almost 4 years, including Senior Director, Human Resources. In that role, she was responsible for talent strategy, recruitment, training and development, organizational health and employee relations. Prior to PepsiCo, Kristen held human resources leadership and business operation roles at Procter & Gamble for over 13 years. Kristen currently serves as a Board Member for the Triangle American Heart Association and The Arc and is actively involved in several non-profits including the Tim Tebow Foundation and Compassion.

Kristen earned her bachelor’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Bruce Starnes joined Advance Auto Parts in June 2024 as Executive Vice President, Chief Merchant. In this role, Bruce leads all aspects of the company’s merchandising strategy, marketing and e commerce business.

Prior to joining Advance, Bruce spent nearly 20 years at the Target Corporation in various product management roles. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President, Merchandising Capabilities and Operations. In this role, Bruce was responsible for the strategy, capability and execution of Target’s merchandising operations. Previously, Bruce held positions as President of Target India and Vice President, Digital Solutions and Partnerships. He began his career at Target as a buyer before transitioning into a variety of leadership roles within the brand’s merchandising and digital teams.

Bruce earned his bachelor’s degree in Advertising from University of Missouri.

Stephen J. Szilagyi joined Advance Auto Parts in January 2023 as Executive Vice President, Supply Chain. In this role, Stephen is responsible for the company’s Supply Chain and Procurement functions. 

Prior to joining Advance, Stephen served as Senior Vice President, Customer Solutions for MSC Industrial Supply, Inc. leading the company’s inventory management solutions and related operational functions, including field service, implementation, and service center operations. Prior to this role, Stephen was Senior Vice President, Supply Chain with MSC. Before joining MSC, Stephen spent 15 years with Lowe’s Companies, Inc. in a variety of roles of increasing responsibility, including Chief Supply Chain Officer from 2013 to 2016.

Stephen has served on the Board of Directors for Ada Jenkins Center, a nonprofit organization that serves as a resource hub to help those in poverty gain economic independence. Stephen has also served on the Board of Directors for the National Organization on Disability, and the American Heart Association’s Charlotte Heart Ball Executive Leadership Team.

Stephen earned his bachelor’s degree in Materials and Logistics Management from Michigan State University.

Herman “Junior” Word joined Advance Auto Parts in February 2003 and has served in his current role as Executive Vice President, Professional, Independents and Canada since September 2024. Prior to this role, Junior served as Executive Vice President, U.S. Stores and Independents from September 2022 to September 2024 and was Division President, Carquest North America from June 2019 to September 2022.

Previously, Junior served as a Regional Vice President for Advance from June 2014 to June 2019. Earlier in his career with Advance, Junior served as Regional Asset Protection Manager of the Midwest and Mountain Regions from August 2008 to June 2014 and as a District Manager from August 2005 to August 2008. Junior began his career with Advance as a Store General Manager in the Roanoke, Va. area. Prior to joining Advance, Junior served as a General Manager with Goodyear Tire & Service.

Junior earned his bachelor’s degree from Radford University.

Bob Cushing joined Advance Auto Parts in January 2014 via the acquisition of General Parts International, Inc., which included the wholly-owned subsidiary, WORLDPAC, Inc. ("WORLDPAC"). Bob has held his current position as Executive Vice President, Professional since August 2016 and President, WORLDPAC, since 2008. Additionally, Bob is responsible for the Enterprise Strategic and TechNet customer channels and our Canadian operations.

Bob joined WORLDPAC via the acquisition of Metrix Parts Warehouse in 1999 and was named WORLDPAC’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in January 2008. Prior to serving as President and CEO, he served as Executive Vice President, Sales and Operations for the U.S. and Canada from 1999 to 2007. Before WORLDPAC, Bob held executive-level sales, marketing and operations positions with Metrix Parts Warehouse, Inc., Interco Parts Corporation and Robert Bosch Corporation.

Bob earned his bachelor’s degree and Finance MBA from Adelphi University.