Do it Best Group Appoints Marianne Thompson to Lead Strategic Integration of Do it Best and True Value

Do it Best Group announces the appointment of Marianne Thompson as its new executive vice president of transformation and integration, a new role created to lead the next phase of integration for True Value and United Hardware into the Do it Best organization. This move represents another bold step in the company’s transformation journey—focused on building a stronger, more unified company positioned to drive accelerated growth for independent dealers worldwide.

Thompson brings more than 35 years of industry experience, including a distinguished five-year tenure at Home Hardware Stores Limited, one of Canada’s largest independent home improvement retailers. There, she held a series of senior executive roles, including chief commercial officer, chief merchandising officer, and senior vice president of merchandise. Reporting directly to the Do it Best president, Thompson was responsible for company-wide Merchandising, Marketing, Logistics, and Operations, leading a team of more than 2,300. Her track record includes successfully driving large-scale business transformation, leading cross-functional teams, and implementing strategic change initiatives to deliver measurable results in cooperative and multi-brand environments.

“This new role reinforces our commitment to leveraging everything we’ve built—our scale, our partnerships, and our relentless focus on independent dealers—to drive growth for our members and retailers and for the co-op,” said Dan Starr, CEO of Do it Best and True Value. “Thompson’s extensive leadership and integration experience will ensure that we don’t just merge operations—we unlock our fullest potential.”

In this new role, Thompson will unify systems, optimize operations, and enhance service delivery across all brands. She will lead the execution of the integration plan, ensuring a seamless transition across all facets of the business. Her work will focus on driving strategic transformation and business optimization, aligning teams and processes to maximize performance. A key part of her role will also involve engaging with members, customers, retailers, and stakeholders to ensure their needs are met and their voices remain central throughout the transformation.

“Marianne shares our vision and passion for supporting the success of independent dealers in their local communities,” said Nick Talarico, Do it Best president. “She brings a unique ability to balance operational excellence with the long-term needs of our store owners, helping us deliver even greater stakeholder value.”

“I am honored to take on this critical role during such an exciting time of transformation, integration, and growth at Do it Best Group,” said Thompson. “Together, we will create a seamless, high-performing organization built around the needs of our dealers and positioned for long-term success.”

“We are excited to welcome Marianne to this essential new role,” added Dent Johnson, President of True Value. “Her leadership will be instrumental in this momentous strategic transformation to deliver the alignment of corporate strategies, systems, and cultures to ensure seamless operations and business continuity to position Do it Best Group for long term success as the Champion of Independents.”

About the Do it Best Group

Headquartered in Fort Wayne, IN, the Do it Best Group is the world’s largest hardware, lumber, and building materials buying cooperative in the home improvement industry. With nearly $6 billion in annual sales, we support thousands of independently-owned locations across the United States and in more than 60 countries worldwide. Partners in the company have the flexibility to operate under the Do it Best, True Value, or their own local store identities, offering a diverse range of branding options to best serve their communities. For more information, visit doitbestonline.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Contact:

Jaclyn Goldsborough – The Ferguson Agency – (574) 596-0818 – jaclyn@fai2.com

Source: Do It Best Corp.