2026 Future Leader in Convenience + Car Wash winner: DEAN STAIKOPOULOS

“The convenience and gas business is all about the ability to adapt to the ever-changing environment, and my biggest accomplishment has been leading national account strategies that drove double-digit growth and strengthened long-term partnerships with key retailers. Seeing those results translate into measurable market share gains has been a proud moment,” says Dean Staikopoulos, who values connections made with vendors, coworkers or and mentors.

“They’ve brought me to where I am today and significantly impacted my professional journey.

Companies that prioritize sustainability and inclusivity create stronger teams and better serve customers. For me, aligning with organizations that invest in these areas is non-negotiable—it reflects the kind of leadership I aspire to.”

Managing national accounts, strategy, promotions, merchandising and placement, Staikopoulos integrated into the Jack Link’s team in the last year, growing the 7-Eleven business with an EDLP strategy and developing solid relationships with Petro-Canada, Shell and 7-Eleven.

Driving growth in Canada’s highly fragmented and competitive convenience channel, which includes over 11,000 retailers, has been an interesting challenge for Staikopoulos.

“Aligning national strategies with regional execution while adapting to changing consumer behaviours continues to be complex,” he explains.

“I addressed this by using data to pinpoint high-impact opportunities, creating agile account plans and maintaining strong retailer relationships. This approach led to measurable results and strengthened our position as a trusted partner in the channel.”