Content about president and COO

April 26, 2013
Supervalu adds to board

Supervalu has elected Rite Aid chairman, president and CEO John Standley and Cerberus COO and general counsel Mark A. Neporent to its board of directors.


Minneapolis — Supervalu has elected Rite Aid chairman, president and CEO John Standley and Cerberus COO and general counsel Mark A. Neporent to its board of directors.


Standley has spent the past 20 years in executive leadership roles in the grocery and pharmacy retail business. He became Rite Aid Corporation’s president and COO in September 2008, was appointed to the Rite Aid board of directors in 2009 and was named CEO in June 2010. He was elected chairman of Rite Aid’s board of directors in June 2012.

April 16, 2013
Stater Bros. names former Supervalu exec as new president and COO

Stater Bros. Markets said Tuesday it has named that Peter Van Helden as president and COO, succeeding the retiring Jim Lee.

San Bernardino, Calif. -- Stater Bros. Markets said Tuesday it has named that Peter Van Helden as president and COO, succeeding the retiring Jim Lee.

Van Helden was previously EVP retail operations for Supervalu.
 

March 5, 2013
Best Buy names COO of Canada ops

Best Buy Co. named Ron Wilson as president and COO of its Canadian operations, effective immediately.

New York -- Best Buy Co. named Ron Wilson as president and COO of its Canadian operations, effective immediately. Wilson will lead the business in Canada under the Future Shop and Best Buy online brands.

As SVP merchandising and e-commerce since 2008 for Best Buy Canada, Wilson led the strategic visions of Bestbuy.ca and Futureshop.ca. Wilson previously managed several other units within Best Buy Canada, including merchandising, operations and marketing.
 

February 21, 2013
Hastings names COO

Hastings Entertainment announced that Alan Van Ongevalle has been promoted to president and COO, effective Feb. 15.

Amarillo, Texas -- Hastings Entertainment announced that Alan Van Ongevalle has been promoted to president and COO, effective Feb. 15.

Ongevalle previously served as EVP merchandising and has held various store management and senior management positions since joining Hastings in November 1992.

 

January 23, 2013
PetSmart announces management succession; new CEO to take reins in June

PetSmart announced its planned management succession plan. The company said that following its annual shareholders meeting on June 14, 2013, current president and COO David K. Lenhardt will be promoted to CEO and simultaneously join the board of directors.

Phoenix -- PetSmart on Tuesday announced its planned management succession plan. The company said that following its annual shareholders meeting on June 14, 2013, current president and COO David K. Lenhardt will be promoted to CEO and simultaneously join the board of directors. At that time, current chairman and CEO Bob Moran will vacate the CEO's chair and become executive chairman.

December 17, 2012
Staples president and COO resigns

Staples Inc. announced Monday that its president and COO Michael Miles has left the company, effective Feb. 2.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples Inc. announced Monday that its president and COO Michael Miles has left the company, effective Feb. 2.

Miles has accepted a position with Boston-based investment firm Berkshire Partners.

 

October 25, 2012
Belk’s Reinvention

Regional retailers are typically defined by geography, but Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk is a bit different than most. Distinguished by its signature Southern hospitality, the nation’s largest privately held department store chain has a dominant presence throughout the South and a footprint as far west as Oklahoma and north through Maryland. But its reach extends even farther, as Canadians and Californians alike shop its e-commerce site. 

September 27, 2012
Tractor Supply Co. announces succession plan

Tractor Supply Co. said that, as part of its planned management succession, current president and COO Gregory Sandfort will assume the role of president and CEO, effective Jan. 1.

Brentwood, Tenn. -- Tractor Supply Co. said Thursday that, as part of its planned management succession, current president and COO Gregory Sandfort will assume the role of president and CEO, effective Jan. 1. He will also be appointed to the board of directors at that time.

Current chairman and CEO James Wright will be appointed executive chairman of the board with a one-year term.

Prior to his tenure at Tractor Supply, Sandfort was president and COO of Michaels Stores.

August 7, 2012
Sycamore completes acquisition of Talbots; appoints former Vitamin Shoppe executive as CEO

Private equity firm Sycamore Partners, which has wrapped up its $391 million acquisition of The Talbots, appointed Michael Archbold, formerly president and COO of Vitamin Shoppe, as CEO and CFO of Talbots.

Hingham, Mass. -- Private equity firm Sycamore Partners, which has wrapped up its $391 million acquisition of The Talbots, appointed Michael Archbold, formerly president and COO of Vitamin Shoppe, as CEO and CFO of Talbots. Archbold, who also served as executive VP and CFO of Saks Fifth Avenue, replaces Trudy Sullivan, who resigned from the CEO’s job after Sycamore completed its acquisition of Talbots late last week.

February 22, 2012
Keeping Family Dollar Stores on Fast Track

After 30 years in the drug store sector, Michael Bloom left CVS Caremark in September 2011 to become president and COO of Family Dollar Stores. The extreme-value chain has adopted an aggressive growth strategy in recent years, and plans to open 450 to 500 stores in 2012.

Family Dollar is equally committed to improving existing locations. Under its ambitious store-reinvention program, an estimated 1,000 locations are scheduled to be renovated, relocated or expanded this year.

November 23, 2011
Incoming Class

The new year will see a changing of the guard in the chief executive’s office of several big retailers. Here are four to watch:

The new year will see a changing of the guard in the chief executive’s office of several big retailers. Here are four to watch:

Costco
The torch has been passed at Costco Wholesale Corp., with president and COO Craig Jelinek stepping into the very big shoes of the company’s longtime chief executive and co-founder Jim Sinegal (effective January 1, 2012).

November 16, 2011
Giant Eagle names Laura Shapira Karet as CEO

Giant Eagle announced that its Board of Directors has named Laura Shapira Karet to serve as the company's CEO, and John Lucot to serve as the company's president and COO, effective January 9, 2012.

Pittsburgh -- Giant Eagle announced that its Board of Directors has named Laura Shapira Karet to serve as the company's CEO, and John Lucot to serve as the company's president and COO, effective January 9, 2012.

Karet, 42, will succeed her father David Shapira, who will assume the position of executive chairman of Giant Eagle's Board of Directors.  Shapira has served the privately-held, family-owned company for 41 of its 80 year-history, and has been CEO since 1980.

October 26, 2011
Books-A-Million to open 41 locations

Books-A-Million (BAM), which has been taking over the leases of former Borders locations, will transform 41 of the sites into BAM stores in early November.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Books-A-Million (BAM), which has been taking over the leases of former Borders locations, will transform 41 of the sites into BAM stores in early November. Most the locations, which are across the nation, represent new markets for the bookseller.

October 18, 2011
Belk names new operations leadership

Department store retailer Belk has named Mark Chandler as executive VP operations, reporting to Johnny Belk, president and COO.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Department store retailer Belk said Tuesday it has named Mark Chandler as executive VP operations, reporting to Johnny Belk, president and COO.

Chandler was previously senior VP supply chain for Price Chopper Supermarkets.
 

October 10, 2011
You Can’t Avoid FASB Changes Forever

By Andy Thomas, president and COO, Virtual Premise, Inc.

By Andy Thomas, athomas@virtualpremise.com

September 28, 2011
Burberry, Walgreens and Tesco among winners of Oracle World Retail Awards

Burberry, Walgreens, Ralph Lauren’s Roger Farrah and Tesco were among the winners at the annual Oracle World Retail Awards, which took place on Tuesday during the annual World Retail Congress in Berlin.

Chicago -- Burberry, Walgreens, Ralph Lauren’s Roger Farrah and Tesco were among the winners at the annual Oracle World Retail Awards, which took place on Tuesday during the annual World Retail Congress in Berlin.

Burberry took home the Retailer of the Year Award. The luxury brand was cited for its far-sighted leadership, professionalism and a compelling offer across multiple platforms.

September 27, 2011
Family Dollar appoints longtime CVS executive as president and COO

Family Dollar Stores said Tuesday that it has named longtime CVS/pharmacy executive Mike Bloom as its new president and COO to replace the departing R. James Kelly, who announced his retirement on Tuesday after 15 years with the company.

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores said Tuesday that it has named longtime CVS/pharmacy executive Mike Bloom as its new president and COO to replace the departing R. James Kelly, who announced his retirement on Tuesday after 15 years with the company. Kelly will serve as vice chairman for the next six months to assist with the transition.

Bloom, formerly executive VP – merchandising, supply chain, marketing and advertising for CVS Caremark, will assume the position of president/COO.

September 15, 2011
Gap vet named Frederick’s of Hollywood president

Frederick's of Hollywood said Wednesday it has named former Gap executive Don Jones as its president and COO.

New York City -- Frederick's of Hollywood said Wednesday it has named former Gap executive Don Jones as its president and COO. He will be charged with helping to revitalize the Frederick’s Hollywood brand on an international scale.

Jones, most recently a retail consultant, was senior VP of stores and operations for Gap, where led the rollout of the Gap Body line.

September 12, 2011
Stage Stores names president, COO of South Hill division

Stage Stores announced that Mike Searles has joined the company as president and COO of its South Hill Division, which is headquartered in South Hill, Va.

Houston -- Stage Stores announced that Mike Searles has joined the company as president and COO of its South Hill Division, which is headquartered in South Hill, Va.

Searles will be responsible for all operations of the South Hill Division, including merchandising, planning and allocation, and store operations. He has served as chairman and CEO of Wilsons Leather Stores, and Factory 2-U Stores, in addition to holding senior executive level positions at several other national retail chains.

September 1, 2011
Costco CEO Jim Sinegal to retire

Jim Sinegal, the much-admired CEO and co-founder of Costco Wholesale Corp., plans to step down effective Jan. 1.

Issaquah, Wash. -- Jim Sinegal, the much-admired CEO and co-founder of Costco Wholesale Corp., plans to step down effective Jan. 1. The chain said its board has elected the company's current president and COO, Craig Jelinek, to succeed Sinegal.

“Costco has a very strong culture and a deep bench of management talent," said Sinegal. "I have total confidence in Craig's ability to handle his new responsibilities and feel we are fortunate as a company to have an executive of his caliber to succeed me as chief executive of Costco."

August 22, 2011
Smarter Supermarkets

If you want to know how supermarkets are trending, just talk to the companies that acquire, build and operate the shopping centers that grocers anchor. Grocery-anchored centers are a specialty of certain real estate companies that have accumulated enough skill and category understanding to pick the right grocery retailer for the community or trade area, and to ensure that the grocer and the center remain relevant during changing market conditions.


July 19, 2011
Survey: More than half of retailers optimistic about rest of year

Results of a survey released Tuesday by shopping center owner Levin Management Corp. showed that, while store sales remain relatively flat, the majority of its retail tenants are optimistic about the balance of 2011.

North Plainfield, N.J. -- Results of a survey released Tuesday by shopping center owner Levin Management Corp. showed that, while store sales remain relatively flat, the majority of its retail tenants are optimistic about the balance of 2011.

April 27, 2011
Darden looks to double size of LongHorn Steakhouse over 10 years

Darden Restaurants plans to roughly double the size of LongHorn Steakhouse during the next 10 years.

New York City -- Darden Restaurants plans to roughly double the size of LongHorn Steakhouse during the next 10 years. 

Speaking at Barclay’s Retail & Restaurants Conference in New York City, Darden president and COO Drew Madsen said LongHorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden and Seasons 52 would help drive the company’s growth going forward. Darden want to expand LongHorn Steakhouse, which currently has some 345 locations, to 600 to 800 units over the next decade.

April 18, 2011
Men's Wearhouse succession plan: Founder Zimmer to step down as CEO

Men's Wearhouse announced Monday that company president and COO Douglas S. Ewert will succeed founder George Zimmer as president and COO, effective June 15.

Houston -- Men's Wearhouse announced Monday that company president and COO Douglas S. Ewert will succeed founder George Zimmer as president and COO, effective June 15.

According to the retailer, the transition is part of a previously announced succession plan.

Ewert, 47, has been nominated by the board to be elected as a director of the company at the annual shareholder meeting and will be included in the list of nominees in the proxy statement for consideration by the shareholders.

March 22, 2011
Wet Seal taps Gap veteran Seipel as president and COO

The Wet Seal announced Monday that it has hired Ken Seipel as president and COO, effective March 28.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal announced Monday that it has hired Ken Seipel as president and COO, effective March 28.

Seipel will report to CEO Susan P. McGalla.

Seipel was previously president and chief merchandise/marketing officer of Pamida Discount Stores LLC, a regional general merchandise discount retailer. Prior to that, he was executive VP of stores, operations and store design for the Old Navy division of Gap.