Dollar General Taps Former CFO for Top Finance Role Amid Tariffs

Dollar General has appointed Donny Lau, a former executive, as its new CFO effective October 20. Lau previously served as CFO of Zaxby's and held various leadership positions at Dollar General. He will replace Kelly Dilts, who is leaving to become Nordstrom's CFO. Lau's return to Dollar General is expected to help the company navigate ongoing price pressures amid tariffs.

Dollar General Corp. (DG) has appointed Donny Lau as its new CFO effective October 20, replacing Kelly Dilts who will join Nordstrom as CFO. Lau, previously CFO of Zaxby’s, brings extensive experience from his tenure at Dollar General, including roles as SVP, finance, and chief strategy officer [2]. His appointment comes as Dollar General faces ongoing price pressures due to tariffs, with the company working to mitigate these impacts [1].

Lau's return to Dollar General follows a strong start to the retailer's fiscal 2025, with net sales climbing 5.3% to $10.4 billion in the first quarter ended May 2. This increase was driven by positive contributions from new stores and growth in same-store sales, despite the impact of store closures [2]. The retailer operates 20,582 stores across the U.S. and Mexico as of May 2 [2].

Lau will receive an annual base salary of $800,000 in his new role [1]. Telsey Advisory Group analysts expect Lau to adjust quickly and succeed in his new post, given his history with Dollar General and deep understanding of the company's culture, strategy, and finance department [1].

Dollar General is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.56 per share for the second quarter, representing a year-over-year decline of 8.2%. Revenues are expected to be $10.67 billion, up 4.5% from the year-earlier period [1]. The company has been working diligently to keep prices low amid tariffs, with Vasos stating that tariffs may result in some price increases as a last resort [1].

References:
[1] https://www.retaildive.com/news/former-dollar-general-exec-return-cfo-post/758327/
[2] https://progressivegrocer.com/dollar-general-names-new-cfo