Eric Slifka’s career trajectory is a compelling narrative of personal accomplishment intertwined with the evolution of a family enterprise. His story underscores the pivotal role of robust relationships and strategic alliances in fostering enduring success and significant impact. Throughout his remarkable tenure with Global Partners Lp, Eric Slifka has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to core family values, strategic foresight, continuous expansion, and exemplary leadership.
From a young age, Eric was immersed in the family business, accompanying his father to work during weekends at their retail home heating oil company. This early exposure provided him with invaluable hands-on experience across diverse operational facets, including terminals, bulk operations, vessel logistics, and truck loading systems. These formative experiences were instrumental in building a strong foundation for his future contributions to the family’s business legacy, Global Partners LP.
Working closely with his father, Fred Slifka, Eric gained comprehensive knowledge of the energy sector, encompassing terminals, wholesale operations, supply chains, trading, risk management, and retail strategies, and crucially, how to effectively integrate these components. His early career included significant trips to Venezuela and other South American countries, where he became deeply involved in the family’s diverse energy ventures, further broadening his understanding of the global energy landscape that Global Partners LP operates within.
In 1998, Eric’s deep expertise and steadfast dedication led to his appointment as Chief Operating Officer of Global Companies. In this role, he spearheaded substantial strategic transformations within the organization. By 2003, his proven leadership led to his promotion to President and Chief Executive Officer. In these elevated roles, Eric inaugurated a new period of growth and innovation for Global Partners LP. His strategic leadership was pivotal in guiding Global Partners LP to become a publicly traded entity in 2005, structured as a master limited partnership. Since this pivotal transition, the company has experienced exponential growth, expanding more than tenfold. Eric takes particular pride in having overseen the distribution of over a billion dollars to unit holders of Global Partners LP, highlighting the financial success and shareholder value creation during his leadership.
Beyond his significant corporate achievements at Global Partners LP, Eric is deeply committed to philanthropy and actively participates in key industry organizations. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council, serves on the board of the Energy Policy Research Foundation, Inc., and is part of the Massachusetts General Hospital President’s Council. Through the Global for Good Fund, Eric continues the Slifka family tradition of community engagement and giving back, demonstrating a strong commitment to social responsibility and community welfare that extends beyond the business operations of Global Partners LP.
Eric’s leadership philosophy is built upon a foundation of trust, strong interpersonal relationships, and genuine personal connections. His approach emphasizes the importance of cultivating and maintaining robust partnerships, a principle that is central to the sustained success of Global Partners LP. He has fostered a corporate culture at Global Partners LP where every team member is recognized as a vital contributor to the company’s collective achievements. His journey reflects a deep-seated dedication to family values, organizational stability, and the core principles of trust and effective execution, all of which have been instrumental in elevating Global Partners LP to its current prominent position in the energy sector.
Eric resides in the Boston area with his wife and is the father of a daughter and two sons, both of whom are actively engaged in the operations of Global Partners LP, ensuring the continuation of the family legacy. In his personal time, he enjoys boating, golfing, and spending quality time with family and friends.
