Industry Eye: Shakeups and People on the Move
Shakeups at Three Big Multichannel Retailers
Executive departures have resulted in major changes at three large multichannel retailers. Below are the maneuverings.
J.C. Penney: Chairman/CEO Myron “Mike” Ullman has added the responsibilities of COO for this multichannel giant following the December termination of EVP/COO Catherine West.
The Home Depot: Robert Nardelli has resigned as chairman/CEO of this multichannel home improvement products merchant. He’s been replaced by Vice Chairman and EVP Frank Blake. Additionally, CFO Carol Tome has added the title of EVP, corporate services; EVP for Home Depot Supply Joe DeAngelo has been named COO; and Brian Robbins has replaced John Campi as SVP, global sourcing and vendor management.
On the catalog/Internet side of the business, VP of merchandising Steve Skinner has replaced Harvey Seegers as president of Home Deport Direct following the latter’s resignation in January. As part of the general reorganization, Skinner now reports to SVP of merchandising Craig Menear.
Limited Brands: Pia Ferrario has been named CEO of Victoria’s Secret Direct following the resignation of President/CEO Mindy Meads. Ferrario previously served as an EVP for the multichannel intimate apparel merchant.
Redcats Hires Student Designer With Contest
Multi-title apparel cataloger Redcats USA in January sponsored a fashion show in conjunction with Massachusetts College of Art with the top prize being a job as a designer for the company’s women’s apparel catalog, Chadwick’s. Judges from Redcats USA chose a designer from a field of 30 students in MassArt’s fashion design program, whose outfits were worn during the fashion show.
MassArt students were challenged to design a complete ensemble for the Chadwick’s customer, taking into consideration the brand’s established customer demographics and price points.
People on the Move...
Northern Safety: Neil Sexton has been hired as president/COO of this safety and industrial supplies cataloger. He previously served as president of both catalog consultancy Sexton’s Market Ltd. and B-to-B outbound telemarketing firm TeleGreet.
BlueSky Brands: Jean Giesmann has joined this multi-title cataloger as SVP of creative. She previously served as vice president of creative services at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM-owned cataloger Plow & Hearth. Giesmann, a member of the Catalog Success editorial board, also is president of NEMOA.
The DMA: Steven Berry has been named EVP of government and consumer affairs for the trade organization. In this role, he’ll run The DMA’s Washington, D.C., office, focusing on communicating the industry’s perspective to lawmakers, addressing privacy, data security and Internet marketing issues. He had government affairs roles for the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and the Cellular Telecom-munications & Internet Association.
Pat Kachura, SVP of ethics and consumer affairs and Jerry Cerasale, SVP of government affairs, both report directly to Berry.
Former McCall Pattern Co. CEO Angstadt Dies
Earle Angstadt Jr., 80, one-time CEO of clothing design catalog The McCall Pattern Co., died Sunday, Jan. 7. He retired from McCall in 1987 after leading the company as president and CEO for 17 years. From 1964-1970, Angstadt served as president and chairman of the board of multichannel clothing merchant Abercrombie & Fitch.
He began his career at R.H. Macy & Co., in New York where he held positions as an executive trainee, buyer and department manager from 1946 to 1952. At the time, he was the youngest senior buyer in the then-nearly-100-year history of the store, at the age of 22.
