GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — After joining the company 26 years ago as a pharmacist, Rick Keyes has now become president of Meijer Inc.

He takes over from J.K. Symancyk, who is leaving the supercenter chain to become the president and chief executive officer of Academy Sports + Outdoors, a sports and outdoor lifestyle retailer based in Katy, Texas.

Keyes, 46, has served as executive vice president of supply chain and manufacturing since 2006, overseeing Meijer’s expansion into manufacturing and pioneering initiatives ranging from the launch of a near-zero emission truck fleet to significant investments in lean distribution technologies. He is a graduate of Ohio Northern University’s College of Pharmacy.

“We are pleased to introduce Rick as our new president,” stated Hank Meijer, co-chairman and co-CEO. “Rick’s proven leadership has been an inspiration to our team. He has grown up with Meijer, excelling in positions in both pharmacy and store operations, and most recently building industry-leading supply chain and manufacturing operations.”

Meijer currently operates 222 supercenters and grocery stores, with pharmacies, in six Midwestern states.

Symancyk is slated to join Academy Sports on November 2. He succeeds Rodney Faldyn as president and CEO of the chain, which has more than 200 stores in 15 states. Symancyk is the current treasurer of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.