STELLARTON, Nova Scotia — Rob Sobey, president and chief executive officer of Lawtons Drugs, plans to retire at the end of this month.

Parent company Sobeys Inc. said Wednesday that Sobey, who has been Lawtons president and CEO for the past eight years, is slated to retire effective Jan. 31. He will continue to serve on the board of Empire Company Ltd., the parent of Sobeys Inc.

"As part of Sobeys Inc.’s succession planning process, Rob informed me a number of months ago of his personal decision to retire as president and CEO of Lawtons and devote more time to his outside business and philanthropic interests," Marc Poulin, president and CEO of Sobeys Inc., said in a statement.

As part of the transition, Sobeys Inc. has appointed Vivek Sood to lead Lawtons Drugs as general manager.

Since joining Sobeys in 2000, Sood has served in various senior merchandising and finance roles with Sobeys Inc. and Empire Company. For the past four years, he has held in leadership positions in Lawtons, most recently as senior vice president.

In his new role at Lawtons, Sood will report to Poulin. "Vivek is well-positioned to assume the leadership of Lawtons, having spent the last four years with the organization overseeing critical areas of the business. I look forward to working with Vivek to continue to build upon Lawtons’ success and drive the business forward," Poulin stated.

Lawtons Drugs has 78 stores in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

"I would like to take this opportunity to offer my thanks to Rob for his leadership in contributing to the company’s success throughout his 32-year career with Sobeys, of which 25 years was as a full-time employee," Poulin added. "Rob’s leadership and efforts over the past eight years have transformed Lawtons into a leading pharmacy retailer and home health care provider in Atlantic Canada and have contributed to Sobeys’ overall success during that period of time. I look forward to continuing to work with him as he remains an active member of the board of directors of Empire Company."