Jim Sinegal: Co-founder and Former CEO of Costco
Business Owner · Retail & E-commerce
Jim Sinegal started as a FedMart grocery bagger in 1955, co-founded Costco and led it as CEO from 1983 to 2011, prioritizing employees and customers over shareholder short-termism.
About Jim Sinegal: Co-founder and Former CEO of Costco
James D. Sinegal (born January 1, 1936, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American businessman, co-founder and former CEO of the Costco Wholesale Corporation, an international retail chain. He served as Costco's president and CEO from 1983 until 2011. As CEO he was known for a hands-on, humanitarian approach to business, prioritizing customer and employee satisfaction over shareholder interests, and for his philanthropic efforts. Sinegal was born into a Catholic working-class family in Pittsburgh and attended St. Lawrence O'Toole primary school, Central Catholic High School and Helix High School in La Mesa, California. He earned an AA at San Diego City College in 1955 and graduated with a BA from San Diego State University in 1959. He started as a grocery bagger at FedMart in 1955, discovered that he loved the retail industry, was excited by the opportunities at the rapidly growing retailer, and worked his way up to executive vice president in charge of merchandising and operations. Sources: English Wikipedia (Jim Sinegal, accessed September 2026).
Basic Information
Co-founder and former CEO, Costco Wholesale Corporation
Company Details
Costco Wholesale Corporation
Warehouse Retail
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