Who was the first CEO of The Home Depot?

Bernie Marcus was the first CEO of The Home Depot.

Marcus co-founded Home Depot in 1978 with Arthur Blank after the two men were dismissed from Handy Dan Improvement Centers. They developed the warehouse-style home-improvement concept with merchandising expert Pat Farrah and financing organized by Ken Langone.

The first Home Depot stores opened in Atlanta on June 22, 1979. Marcus served as the company’s first chief executive officer from its founding until May 1997, and he was also its first chairman. His retail background, including experience as a pharmacist and executive at Handy Dan, helped shape the company’s focus on broad product selection and knowledgeable service.

Arthur Blank succeeded Marcus as CEO and later became the owner of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United. Pat Farrah and Ken Langone were important co-founders or early contributors, but neither was Home Depot’s first CEO. Arthur Blank was a co-founder, not the first chief executive.