New Top Pep Boy

Lawrence Stevenson, formerly ceo of Chapters (Toronto), until recently Canada's largest book retailer, has been named ceo of Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack (Philadelphia), the automotive aftermarket and service chain.

Stevenson and a non-executive chairman to be named by the retailer's board of directors later this month will replace Mitchell Leibovitz, who held both posts before his retirement. The company had announced in January 2003 that Leibovitz would retire when the board hired a successor.

Chapters had been acquired by Canadian rival Indigo Books & Music & More (Toronto) through a hostile takeover and was merged into Indigo in 2001.

The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack operates about 630 stores in 36 states and Puerto Rico, selling brand-name and private-label automotive parts and offering on-site service facilities.