Worcester Business Journal

32 Worcester Business Journal | June 8, 2026 | wbjournal.com P OW E R 1 0 0 R E TA I L William Aubuchon IV President & CEO Aubuchon Co., in Westminster Age: 48 Employees: 2,100 Central Mass. employees: 1,500 Annual revenue: $430 million Aubuchon is leading one of the most ambitious growth campaigns by any Central Massachusetts company. e fourth-generation leader has guided the 118-year-old hardware retailer through a trans- formation fueled by its ACE Hardware partnership, acquiring 26 stores since 2024, remodeling 75 locations, and expanding into new states. His goal is to triple the company's size by its 125th anniversary in 2033, extending the reach of one of the region's largest family-owned businesses, now in its fourth generation. - B.K. What unique skill sets you apart from others? Healthy things grow, and they grow fastest when the people closest to the work are empowered to lead. What is one habit powerful leaders should practice every day? e leaders I admire most spend more time understanding their people's "why" than promoting their own. What is your favorite book on leadership? "5 Levels of Leadership" by John Maxwell Bob Eddy Chairman and CEO BJ's Wholesale Club, in Marlborough Employees: 33,000 Annual revenue: $21.5 billion Eddy leads one of Central Massachusetts' largest public companies at a pivotal moment in its growth. Under his leadership, BJ's Wholesale Club has accelerated a national expansion strategy, entering Texas as its 21st state, opening its first Massachusetts location in 13 years in Springfield, and launching new club formats designed to reach more customers. e company now operates more than 260 clubs, serves more than 8 million members, and plans to open 25 to 30 locations every two years. Even as inflation, tariffs, and consumer uncertain- ty challenge retailers, BJ's has continued growing revenue, investing $800 million in new clubs and distribution infrastructure, and expanding its foot- print in highly competitive markets. As competitor Costco pushes deeper into Central Massachusetts with a new Southborough store, Eddy is leading an aggressive effort to ensure BJ's, as one of the region's most prominent corporations in the region, remains on offense. - B.K. Ernie Herrman CEO, president, and director TJX Cos., in Framingham Total employees: 364,000 Central Mass employees: 1,000 Annual revenue: $60.4 billion (fiscal 2026) e business climate has been anything but predictable since the COVID-19 pandemic, but TJX has blasted through lockdown disruptions, tariffs, rising costs, and other potential roadblocks to bring returns to shareholders and jobs for the local economy. As other retailers have struggled to grow, TJX's net sales increased from $32.1 billion in the COVID-impacted fiscal 2021 to $60.4 billion in 2026. e company received a boost to its first quarter earnings this year when it received a $470-million settlement payment stemming from a two-decade dispute with Visa and Mastercard over allegations of price fixing. e throughline for all of TJX's recent growth has been Herrman. President of the firm since 2011 and CEO since 2016, the international discount retailer has added more than 1,000 stores across its brands since he took full control. His success at the compa- ny has resulted in recognition from Barron's as one the nation's top CEOs in 2025, with the company included on Fortune's Most Admired Companies that same year. - E.C. PHOTO | COURTESY OF STAPLES CANADA Rachel Huckle CEO Staples, in Framingham Total employees: 12,000 Mass. employees: 5,000 Annual revenue: $8 billion (2024) Huckle was quietly named CEO of Staples in 2025, as the office retailer forewent a formal announcement as Huckle went from leading the company's operations in her home country of Can- ada to her new expanded role in charge of the entire company. Demand for Staples' namesake product is far from its all-time high in this increasingly digital world, but the company has managed to stay relevant through adaptation. New York-based Sycamore Partners took Staples private in 2017 in a $6.9-bil- lion deal, with the brand increasingly focusing on business-to-business transactions since. Staples closed its only Worcester location in 2020, but 10 others remain in Central Massachusetts, with the firm's in-store model increasingly focused on print and marketing services, tech support, and shipping. Originally a nurse, Huckle's job at an Ontario pharmacy led to a 20+ year career climbing the ladder in retail. She joined Staples in 2019 as a chief retail officer, and she now leads Central Massachu- setts' second-largest employer. Outside of work, Huckle is a fitness buff and big Peloton fan, according to a retailer-insider.com profile. - E.C. "Everything that matters at our company – our culture, our neighbors' experience, our results – rises and falls with how our leaders show up for the people they serve." - William Aubuchon IV, Aubuchon Co.

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