Bill McEwan is President & Chief Executive Officer of Sobeys Inc. and a member of the Board of Directors of its parent company, Empire Company Limited.

A native of Trail, British Columbia, Mr. McEwan began his career at Ferraro's Ltd., Super Valu Stores at the age of 15, spending 13 years with the company in both British Columbia and Alberta.

Between 1989 and 2000, Mr. McEwan held a variety of progressively senior marketing and merchandising roles in the consumer packaged goods industry with Coca-Cola Limited and in grocery retail with A&P both in Canada and the United States. He served as President of A&P's Canadian operations before his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of the company's U.S. Atlantic Region, the position he held immediately prior to joining Sobeys Inc.

Since joining Sobeys Inc. in 2000, Mr. McEwan has overseen the development of the company's long-term strategic plan, built a leadership team and, with that team, has driven the execution of Sobeys' food-focused growth plans.

Mr. McEwan is a member of the Board of Directors of international food retailer Delhaize Group. He has played an active leadership role in a number of industry and charitable organizations, currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Consumer Goods Forum. Mr. McEwan has also served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, the Food Marketing Institute, the Grocery Foundation and Kids Help Phone. In 1999, he was recognized as National Volunteer of the Year by Kids Help Phone, an organization to which he continues to devote his time and energy.

In November 2005, Mr. McEwan was presented the Golden Pencil Award, the Canadian grocery industry’s highest honour, recognizing a career of outstanding contributions to the food industry. In May, 2006, the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors presented Mr. McEwan with the Robert Beaudry Award of Excellence for leadership in the grocery industry.