Dive Brief:

• Dollar General announced on Thursday that COO Todd Vasos will take over the discount retailer after outgoing CEO Rick Dreiling leaves his post in June. 

• Dreiling will remain on the company's board until January 2016, serving as chairman and senior advisor. 

• Vasos first joined Dollar General in 2008 as the company's chief merchandising officer, and was appointed to the COO position in 2013.

​Dive Insight:

Vasos' appointment comes at a challenging time for Dollar General.

While it is still the nation's largest discount retailer, a pending merger between Family Dollar and Dollar Tree will change that, with the newly merged company set to take the crown. Dollar General fought with Dollar Tree to acquire Family Dollar, but its bid was rejected in early 2015 after advisory firms recommended Family Dollar shareholders accept the deal with Dollar Tree because it is more likely to be completed.

It's not yet clear what plans Dollar General and incoming CEO Todd Vasos have for the company as it looks to fend off competition from its now-stronger rival Dollar Tree.