Personnel Updates:
Anna’s Linens has promoted company president Scott Gladstone to CEO
Build-A-Bear Workshop has named Gina Collins as Chief Marketing Officer and Brand Bear. Collins will lead the company’s marketing, public relations, entertainment and creative teams to drive sales growth and profitability. She will also be responsible for branding, marketing, public relations, creative, licensing and corporate sales
hhgregg CFO Jeremy Aguilar resigned from the company to accept a similar role elsewhere. Senior VP of Finance Andrew Giesler has assumed CFO responsibilities on an interim basis. Mr. Aguilar has been named CFO at Sports Authority.
Hhgregg announced that, Kevin Lyons has been elevated to the role of Senior VP of e-commerce to lead the retailer’s digital initiatives.
Jo-Ann has promoted Riddianne Kline to Exec VP Marketing and Merchandising, Tom Williams to Exec VP, Operations and Human Resources and James Kerr to Exec VP, CFO.
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has promoted Tony Carosello to VP Real Estate.
Michaels Stores, Inc., announced that Dora Cortinas has been hired as VP, eCommerce, Marketing and Store Solutions.
Office Depot has appointed Michael A. Steele as VP of Investor Relations. Steele most recently served as VP of Investor Relations for OfficeMax, where he had been employed since July 2007. He plans to relocate to the Office Depot corporate headquarters in Boca Raton.
Rich Leland, having led both treasury and investor relations for Office Depot since April 2013, will continue as VP Finance and Treasurer, assuming additional key responsibilities in an expanded role.
Overstock.com has announced several executive promotions along with a resignation.
The company named VP and General Counsel Mark Griffin to the position of Senior VP and General Counsel.
Overstock.com also promoted the following executives to the position of Vice President:
• Seth Moore was promoted to VP Website and Mobile.
• Terry Jensen was promoted to VP Customer Service and Training.
• Michael Skirucha was promoted to VP Finance and Controller.
• Alec Wilkins was promoted to VP Application Development.
In addition, Senior VP Stephen Tryon has resigned from his position to pursue long term interests.
RadioShack has hired specialty retail industry veteran John W. Feray to help the company with its turnaround strategy and announced he will be Exec VP and CFO.In orderto sign on withRadioShack Feray left an executive position at Dollar General, where he had been Senior VP of Finance and Strategy since 2008.
Restoration Hardware co-CEO Carlos Alberini is leaving the luxury home furnishings retailer. The company is now left in the hands of its other co-CEO Gary Friedman, who said he will be looking for a replacement for Alberini’s position.
Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) announced that Dollar General Chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling was elected Chairman of the to fill a position held the past two years by Target Chairman, President and CEO Gregg Steinhafel.
Target’s now formerExec VP, CFO, Douglas Scovanner, has been appointed Interim Exec VP Finance and Accounting at Hudson’s Bay Company. Mr. Scovanner had been with Target for nearly two decades.
Sears Automotive Group has named Norman Miller as Senior VP and President. He replaces Joe Finney, who left the company at the end of 2013.
Staples announced that two senior executives have been given new responsibilities to strengthen the company’s reinvention efforts and to prepare for a more intensely competitive market, which now includes the challenge from the newly merged Office Depot and OfficeMax.
Staples elevated Joe Doody to the role of Vice Chairman from his prior position as President of the company’s North American commercial division. Filling Doody’s now former slot is Staples executive Shira Goodman who previously served as Exec VP, Global Growth. Both will continue to report to long time Staples Chairman and CEO Ron Sargent.
Walmart International Exec VP; CFO Catherine Smith has left the company, to become Exec VP; CFO for Express Scripts Holding Co.
Walmart announced that David Cheesewright has been promoted to President and CEO of Walmart International. Cheesewright will report to Doug McMillon, who was tapped to succeed Mike Duke as the company’s president and CEO. Both assumed their new roles Feb. 1, 2014. Cheesewright’s successor will be named at a later date.
Wayfair has appointed Christiane Lemieux as Executive Creative Director.
Financial Focus:
Kirkland’s, Inc. reported that net sales for the 52 weeks ended February 1, 2014, increased 2.7% to $460.6 million compared with $448.4 million for the 53 weeks ended February 2, 2013. On a 52-week basis, comparable store sales for fiscal 2013, including e-commerce sales, increased 0.5% compared with a 3.0% decrease in fiscal 2012. The Company opened 24 stores and closed 23 during fiscal 2013.
Industry Insight:
Five Below is entering the Tennessee market and will be opening five new stores there by spring.
Hobby Lobby Stores is entering the Twin Cities for the first time with a 49,000-square-foot store. The company hopes to open 14 or 15 stores in Minnesota within the next two to three years.
