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 of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.

Shweta Bhatia joined Advance Auto Parts as EVP, Chief Technology Officer in January 2025. She brings more than 20 years of technology and operational experience to the company and has a proven track record of successfully executing transformational programs that provide quality solutions with speed and efficiency.

Prior to joining Advance, Shweta served as senior vice president of technology at Dollar General, where she led a multi-year, end-to-end, technology transformation and modernization. Shweta also served as the vice president of technology at both Walmart International, where she led the company’s core retail technology portfolio, and Kohl’s, where she managed the strategy and implementation of solutions across multiple channels. Her passion for modern technology transformation began as an entrepreneur, creating tech startup Wisdom Info Tech, an award-winning IT engineering fulfillment firm specializing in services for Fortune 500 companies.

Shweta holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Amity University.

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 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.

Jeff Vining joined Advance Auto Parts in March 2025 as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. In this role, Jeff is responsible for the company’s legal, corporate governance, and compliance functions.

Jeff brings more than 20 years of deep legal expertise within publicly traded companies, including key areas such as corporate governance, M&A, risk management, labor and employment, and litigation. Most recently, Jeff served as general counsel and secretary at Unifi, Inc., where he was responsible for the company’s global legal functions and ensuring compliance with corporate governance requirements. A significant portion of his career was spent at Lowe’s Companies, Inc., where he served in senior roles including Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Assistant Secretary.

Jeff received his Juris Doctor at the University of Richmond School of Law in Richmond, Virginia, and his bachelor’s degree from James Madison University.

Michael Beland joined Advance Auto Parts in January 2025 from Driven Brands Holdings, Inc., a public franchise provider of consumer and commercial automotive services, where he has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer since July 2021.

Prior to joining Advance, Michel served at Wolfspeed, Inc. (formerly Cree, Inc.), a public manufacturer of silicon carbide materials and devices for power applications, as Assistant Corporate Controller from June 2017 to October 2017 and as Corporate Controller from October 2017 to July 2021. He also previously served as Executive Director, Assistant Corporate Controller of PPD, LLC, a leading global contract research organization, from December 2010 to May 2017 and as Vice President, Corporate Controller & Compliance Officer of OrthoSynetics, Inc., an orthodontic practice management company, from January 2008 to December 2010.

Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant.

Todd Davenport joined Advance Auto Parts in August 2022 and has served in his current role as Senior Vice President, Real Estate and Development since January 2024. In this role, Todd manages the company’s new store growth, leasing, facilities, and corporate office portfolio. Previously, Todd held the position of Vice President, Real Estate.

Prior to joining Advance, Todd served as Senior Director, Real Estate for Inspire Brands, with a focus on the Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins and Jimmy John’s brands. Previously, Todd spent 17 years at Dunkin’ in a variety of strategy, development and real estate leadership roles.

Todd earned his bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College and Master of Education degree from Georgia State University.

Jason Hand has been a field leader at Advance for over 20 years. He joined as a Salesperson in December 1999 and has held several roles of increasing authority in various aspects of operations and field leadership, most recently as Regional Vice President, from December 2013 through April 2022, Senior Vice President of Operations and Real Estate, from April 2022 through August 2023 and Senior Vice President, U.S. Stores, since August 2023.