Board Committees

Michael J. Gade has served as director of ARKO Corp. since the closing of the Business Combination and as lead independent director from July 2021 until June 2023.  Mr. Gade serves as a Senior Advisor to Safe Security, a leading cybersecurity provider, and served as a Senior Advisor to the Global Consumer Group of Boston Consulting Group from 2007 to 2024. Additionally, Mr. Gade was the Senior Partner and Chairman of Coopers & Lybrand’s Retail and Consumer Practice (now PwC) as well as a senior executive at 7-Eleven, having been responsible for merchandising, marketing and business development. In July 2024, Mr. Gade joined the board of the IMAGINE Group, a leading provider of visual print communications and experiential marketing solution controlled by Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. Previously, Mr. Gade served on the board of the following companies: Rent-A-Center, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCII) (now Upbound Group), which offers a lease-to-own solution for furniture and other durable goods; the Crane Group, Inc., a 4th generation family office operating several diversified operating companies; MACS, Inc, a private equity owned convenience chain and gasoline distributor in the Mid-Atlantic region; One Network, Inc, a leading software developer in the area of Demand Based Supply Chains as part of a Total Logistics solution; and Strive Group & Strive Logistics, a promotional group serving the consumer products industry. Mr. Gade received his B.S.B.A. and a Master in Business Administration (“M.B.A.”) from the Ohio State University.

Avram (Avi) Friedman has served as director of ARKO Corp. since June 7, 2023, and was an Adjunct Associate Professor of Business at Columbia Business School from 2021 through January 2025. From 2001 to 2020, Mr. Friedman worked at Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP (“Davidson Kempner”), a global investment management firm with approximately $37 billion in assets under management and over 500 employees across seven global offices. Mr. Friedman was a Managing Member of the firm from 2006 through 2020. During his time at Davidson Kempner, Mr. Friedman co-managed the firm’s credit portfolios, including distressed investments, high yield, convertible arbitrage, real estate and structured products. In addition to portfolio management, Mr. Friedman also served on various investment and risk committees. Prior to Davidson Kempner, Mr. Friedman was a Vice President at Nomura Securities Special Situations Investment Trust from 2000 to 2001 and a Director in the Special Situations Group at PricewaterhouseCoopers Securities LLC from 1995 to 2000. Previously, Mr. Friedman was a Director of GPM from 2014 to 2020. Mr. Friedman holds a B.A. in Psychology from York University Toronto, Canada, and a Master of Management (concentration in Finance) from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Andrew R. Heyer has served as director of ARKO Corp. since the closing of the Business Combination and as lead independent director since June 2023.  Mr. Heyer served as President and a director of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. II (“Haymaker”) from its inception until the closing of the Business Combination. Mr. Heyer is a finance professional with more than 40 years of experience in investing in the consumer and services industries, and he has advised large private equity firms on leveraged finance strategies. Mr. Heyer was an officer and director of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. I (“Haymaker I”) before its merger with OneSpaWorld Holdings (NASDAQ:OSW) (“OneSpaWorld”) in March 2019, where he continues to serve on the board. Mr. Heyer was an officer and director of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. III (“Haymaker III”) before its merger with biote, Corp. (NASDAQ:BTMD), a provider of preventative healthcare, in May 2022, and he has served on the board since such time. Since 2010, Mr. Heyer has also served as a board member of The Lovesac Company (NASDAQ: LOVE), a branded retailer of technology-forward furniture. Mr. Heyer is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Mistral Equity Partners, a private equity fund founded in 2007 that invests in the consumer industry. Prior to founding Mistral in 2007, from 2000 to 2007, Mr. Heyer served as a Founding Managing Partner of Trimaran Capital Partners, a $1.3 billion private equity fund. Mr. Heyer was formerly a vice chairman of CIBC World Markets Corp. and a cohead of the CIBC Argosy Merchant Banking Funds from 1995 to 2001. Prior to joining CIBC World Markets Corp. in 1995, Mr. Heyer was a founder and Managing Director of The Argosy Group L.P. from 1990 to 1995. From 1984 to 1990, Mr. Heyer was a Managing Director at Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc. and, previous to that, he worked at Shearson/American Express. Previously, Mr. Heyer served on the board of following companies: Coliseum Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: MITA), a special purpose acquisition company; Tastemaker Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: TMKRU), a special purpose acquisition company; AF Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: AFAQ), a special purpose acquisition company; Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAIN), a natural and organic food and products company; XpresSpa Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: XSPA), a health and wellness services company; Insomnia Cookies, a retailer of desserts open primarily in the evening and nighttime; Accel Foods, an incubator and investor in early stage food and beverage companies; Las Vegas Sands Corp., a casino company; El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., a casual Mexican restaurant; and Reddy Ice Holdings, Inc., a manufacturer of packaged ice products. Mr. Heyer received his B.Sc. and M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Laura Karet has served as director of ARKO Corp. since June 7, 2023 and has over 30 years of experience in the grocery and consumer products industries. Ms. Karet is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Who Brew, LLC, a franchisee of the fast-growing 7 Brew brand. From 2012 to 2023, Ms. Karet served as the Chief Executive Officer of Giant Eagle, Inc. (“Giant Eagle”), one of the nation’s largest retailers with approximately 32,000 team members and $11 billion in annual sales. She also served as the chairman of Giant Eagle’s board of directors. From 2000 to 2012, Ms. Karet served in a variety of executive roles at Giant Eagle, including leading merchandising, store operations, the convenience store business, the pharmacy business and strategy. Ms. Karet started the extremely successful GetGo convenience store brand and grew it to approximately 275 stores. During her tenure at Giant Eagle, Ms. Karet was noted for a variety of innovations, including enhancing manufacturing and fresh food production capabilities that led to expanded product offerings. She also focused on applying next generation technologies such A.I., robotics, and automation to retail, e-commerce, customer behavior and supply chains to streamline operations in stores and online. Prior to joining Giant Eagle, Ms. Karet was a marketing executive at the Sara Lee Corporation from 1997 to 2000 and a brand manager at the Procter & Gamble Company from 1990 to 1997, where she oversaw such household names such as Secret antiperspirant, Folgers coffee, and Crisco. Ms. Karet is a Trustee for the Brookings Institution and the Committee for Economic Development and she serves on the board of the Crane Group, Inc., a 4th generation family office operating several diversified operating companies. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Ms. Karet holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Amherst College.

Steven J. Heyer, has served as director of ARKO Corp. since the closing of the Business Combination and formerly Haymaker’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman from inception until the closing of the Business Combination, has over 40 years of experience in the consumer and consumer-related products and services industries, leading a range of companies and brands. Mr. Heyer is currently President and a director of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. 4, a special purpose acquisition company. Mr. Heyer has applied his experience and analytical skills in a variety of leadership positions across diverse industry groups, including broadcast media, consumer products, and hotel and leisure companies. Over the past nine years, he has been acting as an advisor and director to, and investor in, several private companies across the consumer subsectors of health and wellness, restaurants, technology, marketing services and technology and furniture. Mr. Heyer was an officer and director of Haymaker I before its merger with OneSpaWorld in March 2019, where he continued to serve on the board through May 2023. Mr. Heyer was an officer and director of Haymaker III before its merger with biote, Corp. in May 2022, and he has served on the board of biote, Corp. since such time. Mr. Heyer’s operating experiences include: leading the turnaround of Outback Steakhouse as an advisor (from 2010 to 2012); as Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (from 2004 until 2007); as President and Chief Operating Officer of The Coca-Cola Company (from 2001 to 2004); as a member of the boards of Coca-Cola FEMSA, and Coca-Cola Enterprises (all from 2001 to 2004); as President and Chief Operating Officer of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., and a member of AOL Time Warner’s Operating Committee (from 1994 to 2001); as President and Chief Operating Officer of Young & Rubicam Advertising Worldwide (from 1992 to 1994); and before that spending 15 years at Booz Allen & Hamilton, ultimately becoming Senior Vice President and Managing Partner. Previously, Mr. Heyer served on the board of following companies: WPP Group, a publicly traded digital, internet, and traditional advertising company; Equifax, a publicly traded consumer credit reporting and insights company; Omnicare, Inc., a supplier of pharmaceutical care to the elderly; Vitrue, Inc., a provider of social marketing publishing technologies; Internet Security Systems, Inc. a provider of internet security software, appliance, and services; and Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. which was acquired by Conyers Park Acquisition Corp, a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company. Mr. Heyer holds a B.S. from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from New York University.

Sherman K. Edmiston III has served as director of ARKO Corp. since the closing of the Business Combination and has served as the Managing Member of HI CapM Advisors, Ltd, a firm providing strategic and financial advice to corporations, private equity firms and hedge funds, since August 2016. From November 2009 through December 2015, Mr. Edmiston served as managing Director of Zolfo Cooper LLC (now Alix Partners), where he provided financial and operational advisory services to corporations and investment firms. Mr. Edmiston currently serves on the board of directors of the following companies: GTT Communications, Inc., a multinational provider of telecommunications and internet services; Key Energy Services, Inc., a leading provider of oilfield services in the Permian Basin and California; Real Alloy, a market leader in third-party aluminum recycling and specification alloy production for packaging, automobile and aerospace industries; and Aludyne, a global supplier of aluminum and iron components for the automotive industry. Formerly, Mr. Edmiston served on the board of directors of the following companies, in addition to others: Arch Resources, Inc. (NYSE: ARCH), a leading producer of metallurgical products for the global steel industry; Continental Global Material Handling, a leading US manufacturer of material handling and conveyor equipment; Centric Brands, a leading lifestyle brand collective; and Mallinckrodt SpecGX LLC (NYSE:MNK), a leading developer and manufacturer of high-quality specialty generic drugs. Mr. Edmiston holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.

Avram (Avi) Friedman has served as director of ARKO Corp. since June 7, 2023, and was an Adjunct Associate Professor of Business at Columbia Business School from 2021 through January 2025. From 2001 to 2020, Mr. Friedman worked at Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP (“Davidson Kempner”), a global investment management firm with approximately $37 billion in assets under management and over 500 employees across seven global offices. Mr. Friedman was a Managing Member of the firm from 2006 through 2020. During his time at Davidson Kempner, Mr. Friedman co-managed the firm’s credit portfolios, including distressed investments, high yield, convertible arbitrage, real estate and structured products. In addition to portfolio management, Mr. Friedman also served on various investment and risk committees. Prior to Davidson Kempner, Mr. Friedman was a Vice President at Nomura Securities Special Situations Investment Trust from 2000 to 2001 and a Director in the Special Situations Group at PricewaterhouseCoopers Securities LLC from 1995 to 2000. Previously, Mr. Friedman was a Director of GPM from 2014 to 2020. Mr. Friedman holds a B.A. in Psychology from York University Toronto, Canada, and a Master of Management (concentration in Finance) from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Michael J. Gade has served as director of ARKO Corp. since the closing of the Business Combination and as lead independent director from July 2021 until June 2023.  Mr. Gade serves as a Senior Advisor to Safe Security, a leading cybersecurity provider, and served as a Senior Advisor to the Global Consumer Group of Boston Consulting Group from 2007 to 2024. Additionally, Mr. Gade was the Senior Partner and Chairman of Coopers & Lybrand’s Retail and Consumer Practice (now PwC) as well as a senior executive at 7-Eleven, having been responsible for merchandising, marketing and business development. In July 2024, Mr. Gade joined the board of the IMAGINE Group, a leading provider of visual print communications and experiential marketing solution controlled by Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. Previously, Mr. Gade served on the board of the following companies: Rent-A-Center, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCII) (now Upbound Group), which offers a lease-to-own solution for furniture and other durable goods; the Crane Group, Inc., a 4th generation family office operating several diversified operating companies; MACS, Inc, a private equity owned convenience chain and gasoline distributor in the Mid-Atlantic region; One Network, Inc, a leading software developer in the area of Demand Based Supply Chains as part of a Total Logistics solution; and Strive Group & Strive Logistics, a promotional group serving the consumer products industry. Mr. Gade received his B.S.B.A. and a Master in Business Administration (“M.B.A.”) from the Ohio State University.

Sherman K. Edmiston III has served as director of ARKO Corp. since the closing of the Business Combination and has served as the Managing Member of HI CapM Advisors, Ltd, a firm providing strategic and financial advice to corporations, private equity firms and hedge funds, since August 2016. From November 2009 through December 2015, Mr. Edmiston served as managing Director of Zolfo Cooper LLC (now Alix Partners), where he provided financial and operational advisory services to corporations and investment firms. Mr. Edmiston currently serves on the board of directors of the following companies: GTT Communications, Inc., a multinational provider of telecommunications and internet services; Key Energy Services, Inc., a leading provider of oilfield services in the Permian Basin and California; Real Alloy, a market leader in third-party aluminum recycling and specification alloy production for packaging, automobile and aerospace industries; and Aludyne, a global supplier of aluminum and iron components for the automotive industry. Formerly, Mr. Edmiston served on the board of directors of the following companies, in addition to others: Arch Resources, Inc. (NYSE: ARCH), a leading producer of metallurgical products for the global steel industry; Continental Global Material Handling, a leading US manufacturer of material handling and conveyor equipment; Centric Brands, a leading lifestyle brand collective; and Mallinckrodt SpecGX LLC (NYSE:MNK), a leading developer and manufacturer of high-quality specialty generic drugs. Mr. Edmiston holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.

Michael J. Gade has served as director of ARKO Corp. since the closing of the Business Combination and as lead independent director from July 2021 until June 2023.  Mr. Gade serves as a Senior Advisor to Safe Security, a leading cybersecurity provider, and served as a Senior Advisor to the Global Consumer Group of Boston Consulting Group from 2007 to 2024. Additionally, Mr. Gade was the Senior Partner and Chairman of Coopers & Lybrand’s Retail and Consumer Practice (now PwC) as well as a senior executive at 7-Eleven, having been responsible for merchandising, marketing and business development. In July 2024, Mr. Gade joined the board of the IMAGINE Group, a leading provider of visual print communications and experiential marketing solution controlled by Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. Previously, Mr. Gade served on the board of the following companies: Rent-A-Center, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCII) (now Upbound Group), which offers a lease-to-own solution for furniture and other durable goods; the Crane Group, Inc., a 4th generation family office operating several diversified operating companies; MACS, Inc, a private equity owned convenience chain and gasoline distributor in the Mid-Atlantic region; One Network, Inc, a leading software developer in the area of Demand Based Supply Chains as part of a Total Logistics solution; and Strive Group & Strive Logistics, a promotional group serving the consumer products industry. Mr. Gade received his B.S.B.A. and a Master in Business Administration (“M.B.A.”) from the Ohio State University.

Steven J. Heyer, has served as director of ARKO Corp. since the closing of the Business Combination and formerly Haymaker’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman from inception until the closing of the Business Combination, has over 40 years of experience in the consumer and consumer-related products and services industries, leading a range of companies and brands. Mr. Heyer is currently President and a director of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. 4, a special purpose acquisition company. Mr. Heyer has applied his experience and analytical skills in a variety of leadership positions across diverse industry groups, including broadcast media, consumer products, and hotel and leisure companies. Over the past nine years, he has been acting as an advisor and director to, and investor in, several private companies across the consumer subsectors of health and wellness, restaurants, technology, marketing services and technology and furniture. Mr. Heyer was an officer and director of Haymaker I before its merger with OneSpaWorld in March 2019, where he continued to serve on the board through May 2023. Mr. Heyer was an officer and director of Haymaker III before its merger with biote, Corp. in May 2022, and he has served on the board of biote, Corp. since such time. Mr. Heyer’s operating experiences include: leading the turnaround of Outback Steakhouse as an advisor (from 2010 to 2012); as Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (from 2004 until 2007); as President and Chief Operating Officer of The Coca-Cola Company (from 2001 to 2004); as a member of the boards of Coca-Cola FEMSA, and Coca-Cola Enterprises (all from 2001 to 2004); as President and Chief Operating Officer of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., and a member of AOL Time Warner’s Operating Committee (from 1994 to 2001); as President and Chief Operating Officer of Young & Rubicam Advertising Worldwide (from 1992 to 1994); and before that spending 15 years at Booz Allen & Hamilton, ultimately becoming Senior Vice President and Managing Partner. Previously, Mr. Heyer served on the board of following companies: WPP Group, a publicly traded digital, internet, and traditional advertising company; Equifax, a publicly traded consumer credit reporting and insights company; Omnicare, Inc., a supplier of pharmaceutical care to the elderly; Vitrue, Inc., a provider of social marketing publishing technologies; Internet Security Systems, Inc. a provider of internet security software, appliance, and services; and Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. which was acquired by Conyers Park Acquisition Corp, a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company. Mr. Heyer holds a B.S. from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from New York University.

Laura Karet has served as director of ARKO Corp. since June 7, 2023 and has over 30 years of experience in the grocery and consumer products industries. Ms. Karet is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Who Brew, LLC, a franchisee of the fast-growing 7 Brew brand. From 2012 to 2023, Ms. Karet served as the Chief Executive Officer of Giant Eagle, Inc. (“Giant Eagle”), one of the nation’s largest retailers with approximately 32,000 team members and $11 billion in annual sales. She also served as the chairman of Giant Eagle’s board of directors. From 2000 to 2012, Ms. Karet served in a variety of executive roles at Giant Eagle, including leading merchandising, store operations, the convenience store business, the pharmacy business and strategy. Ms. Karet started the extremely successful GetGo convenience store brand and grew it to approximately 275 stores. During her tenure at Giant Eagle, Ms. Karet was noted for a variety of innovations, including enhancing manufacturing and fresh food production capabilities that led to expanded product offerings. She also focused on applying next generation technologies such A.I., robotics, and automation to retail, e-commerce, customer behavior and supply chains to streamline operations in stores and online. Prior to joining Giant Eagle, Ms. Karet was a marketing executive at the Sara Lee Corporation from 1997 to 2000 and a brand manager at the Procter & Gamble Company from 1990 to 1997, where she oversaw such household names such as Secret antiperspirant, Folgers coffee, and Crisco. Ms. Karet is a Trustee for the Brookings Institution and the Committee for Economic Development and she serves on the board of the Crane Group, Inc., a 4th generation family office operating several diversified operating companies. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Ms. Karet holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Amherst College.