Pilot Company welcomes two new executive leaders

Stephanie Myers, Sr. Manager, Communications and Public Relations

Pilot Company welcomes two new executive leaders
 Adam Wright named CEO; Joe Lillo named CFO  

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (April 10, 2023) – Pilot Company, one of the leading suppliers of fuel and the largest operator of travel centers in North America, announced today that Adam Wright will be joining the company as Chief Executive Officer and Joe Lillo will become Chief Financial Officer, officially taking their positions on May 30, 2023.

After Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B) became majority owners of Pilot Company on January 31, 2023, they identified Wright and Lillo, longtime Berkshire Hathaway executives, for these key leadership roles to deliver on the company’s long-term growth and vision plans. Shameek Konar and Kevin Wills will be leaving their respective positions after supporting the transition.

Wright has over two decades of experience as a leader in the energy sector and brings expertise in strategic planning and operational excellence. He joined Berkshire Hathaway in 1996 and has served in various executive management roles in the energy sector including most recently serving as Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer for one of the nation’s largest combined natural gas and electric providers. 

Lillo has been an integral part of the Berkshire Hathaway Energy family of businesses for more than 25 years. He has significant expertise in enhancing financial controls, managing risk, and driving responsible value creation.  

"Pilot Company has become one of the most future-forward companies in our industry. Adam’s energy expertise, leadership, and focus on customer satisfaction will help ensure Pilot Company remains a pillar of North America’s transportation ecosystem for decades to come,” said Greg Abel, Vice Chair, Non-Insurance Operations for Berkshire Hathaway. “From the beginning of our journey together, Berkshire Hathaway recognized Pilot Company as a strong business that was well-positioned for the long term and was backed by an innovative and hardworking team. I am confident Adam and Joe have a solid platform from which to propel the company forward.”

As the nation’s largest travel center network, Pilot Company has continued to expand its footprint and prepare for the future of travel, including an investment of $1B in its New Horizons store modernization initiative and installing a coast-to-coast network of EV fast-chargers at many of its locations across the country. Pilot Company’s energy division is operating at record highs to fuel its growing travel center network and support its customers through the industry’s energy transformation. 

“It's an honor to join the Pilot family and to lead such an influential company that has fueled millions of journeys over the past 65 years,” said Wright. “Pilot remains focused on meeting the unique needs of our pro drivers, fleets, guests, and Team Members while advancing a strong company strategy that positions us for the future.”

The Haslam family continues to be an integral part of the company with 20 percent ownership and James A. Haslam II, founder of Pilot Company, and James A. "Jimmy" Haslam III as members of the Board. 

“I want to thank Shameek and Kevin for all that they have done for Pilot Company. They have been instrumental in leading our over 30,000 Team Members through several years of growth and innovation,” said Jimmy Haslam. “While we express our utmost gratitude to them, I also want to welcome Adam, Joe and their families to Pilot Company and to the Knoxville community.”

This next generation of leadership will build upon the company’s long-standing commitment to its team members, the community, and the industry. Pilot Company will remain headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee and has a compelling growth strategy in place with a bright future ahead as it aims to be the preferred choice for all interstate drivers. 

About Pilot Company

Pilot Travel Centers LLC (“Pilot Company”) keeps North America’s drivers moving as one of the leading suppliers of fuel and the largest operator of travel centers. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot Company has grown its network to more than 870 locations serving an average of 1.3 million guests per day and providing over 70,000 fleet customers with solutions for fuel, credit, factoring, services and rewards. Pilot Company has the third largest tanker fleet in North America with over 1,500 trucks that supply approximately 14 billion gallons of fuel per year and provide hauling and disposal services to the oil field sector. As a fuel and energy leader, Pilot Company is the largest provider of biodiesel and renewable fuels and is paving the way to the future by developing an EV charging network and low carbon fueling alternatives. Its Pilot and Flying J travel center network includes over 750 locations in 44 states and six Canadian provinces with more than 790 restaurants, 77,000 truck parking spaces, 5,500 deluxe showers, 6,300 diesel lanes and truck maintenance and tire service with Southern Tire Mart at Pilot Flying J. The One9 Fuel Network provides smaller fleets and independent professional drivers with a variety of fueling locations that offer everyday value, convenience, credit and perks. More information on locations and rewards is available in the myRewards Plus app.

Pilot Company is a majority owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. For additional information about Pilot Company, its 30,000 team members and commitment to giving back, visit www.pilotcompany.com.

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