CBE alum Hal Lawton (B.S. ‘96), president and CEO of Tractor Supply Company, has been appointed to the board of directors for Wayfair Inc. Lawton is a CBE Distinguished Alumni, the NC State College of Natural Resources 2024 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, and was a CBE Centennial Seminar Series Speaker.

“Hal brings extensive leadership experience and a remarkable record of success in the retail industry, and we are excited to welcome him to our board,” said Niraj Shah, co-founder, co-chairman and CEO of Wayfair. “His perspective will be invaluable as we continue to scale and strengthen our business.” 

He has served as CEO of Tractor Supply Company since 2020. Under his leadership, the company has achieved record performance and solidified its position as a leading rural lifestyle retailer. Prior to joining Tractor Supply, Lawton was president of Macy’s. He also served in senior executive roles at eBay and Home Depot. He holds dual degrees in chemical engineering and pulp and paper science technology from NC State, and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. 

“I’m honored to join Wayfair’s board of directors,” said Lawton. “Wayfair has reimagined how people shop for their homes, combining technology, logistics and customer experience in powerful ways. I look forward to partnering with the board and leadership team to help advance the company’s objectives and long-term success.” 

Congratulations on this appointment, Hal!