Staples Appoints Shira Goodman as President and CEO

Staples on Monday named Shira Goodman as president and chief executive officer, cementing her role at the office supplies company. Goodman, a Staples veteran, has served as interim CEO since May when longtime leader Ron Sargent agreed to resign after a federal judge blocked the retailer's attempt to acquire rival Office Depot. Goodman has served in key leadership positions at Staples, including president, North American Operations; president, North American Commercial; executive vice president of global growth; executive vice president of human resources; and executive vice president of marketing.

Total Retail's Take: Goodman has a tough job ahead of her. Staples’ results have been dragged down recently as an increasingly digital workplace has dented sales. The company hoped to weather the changing retail market by bulking up, but with the failed Office Depot merger behind it, Staples is seeking to realign its operations. It's more aggressively going after mid-market business clients, closing stores, reducing costs and focusing its business on North America.