Johnston C. Adams

JOHNSTON C. ADAMS, JR. is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
AutoZone. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Mr. Adams received a Bachelor’s
degree in Government from the University of Virginia in 1970. From
there he served three years as an officer in the United States Navy,
which included a tour in the Pacific during the Vietnam War. After his
military service, he joined Gem, Inc., the Byhalia, MS-based food,
chemical and textile company owned by his father. In 1978, he was named
President and became co-owner of his family business. The company was
sold in 1982. While at Gem, Mr. Adams attended and graduated from the
Owner-President’s Management Program at the Harvard Graduate School of
Business. In 1983, he joined Malone & Hyde, AutoZone’s former parent
company. He served as President of Malone & Hyde’s Miami division,
which included markets in Florida, Central and South America and the
Caribbean. Mr. Adams joined Atlanta-based NCC L.P. in 1990. As NCC
L.P.’s co-owner and President, sales increased in its various operating
units, primarily food, tobacco and hunting supplies, to $1 billion
annually. He returned to Memphis and went back to work with Pitt Hyde
when he joined AutoZone in 1994. He was named Executive Vice-President
of distribution. In March, 1996, he was promoted to Chief Executive
Officer and elected to the company’s Board of Directors. He became
President and Chief Executive Officer in December 1996, then was elected
Chairman of AutoZone after Mr. Hyde’s retirement in March 1997. Mr.
Adams serves as a director for Keebler Foods Company. He is also on the
board of trustees for LeMoyne-Ownes College in Memphis. He is married
to Scott Carr Adams of Clarksdale, Mississippi. They have three
children. He actively supports numerous cultural, educational and
charitable organizations including, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation,
Memphis Food Bank, Partners in Public Education, United Way, Memphis
Arts Council and The Memphis Challenge.