Wild Oats names its chairman interim CEO

Wild Oats Markets Inc., the operator of 114 natural-food stores, named Chairman Gregory Mays as interim chief executive after former CEO Perry Odak resigned last week.

Mays will run the company until a replacement for Odak is found, Boulder, Colo.-based Wild Oats said. Odak quit Oct. 19.

Mays was named chairman after joining the board in July. Odak, hired in 2001, resigned when he wasn’t able to agree on a new employment contract.

Wild Oats’ shares rose 9 cents to $17.80.