Walmart Tabs Bartlett, Former Bush Administration Official, as EVP of Corporate Affairs


people Thu, 05/23/2013 - 12:03pm

BENTONVILLE, Ark.-Dan Bartlett, former senior counselor to President George W. Bush, has been named executive vice president of corporate affairs for Walmart.

In his new role, Bartlett oversees external communications, government relations, sustainability and the Walmart Foundation, the retailer’s charitable organization. He reports directly to Mike Duke, president and CEO, and serves as a member of Walmart’s executive council. He is succeeding Leslie Dach, who announced in March that he plans to leave the company next month.

All-Clad’s Turano to Depart, Sales and Marketing to Report to Groupe SEB’s Cairo


people Thu, 05/23/2013 - 12:01pm

WEST ORANGE, N.J.–Don Turano, who has served as All-Clad Metalcrafters’s vice president of sales and marketing for more than two years, will be leaving the company to pursue an entrepreneurial opportunity, parent company Groupe SEB said. He will stay through Sept. 1 to help with the transition. His role will be restructured into two separate positions—vice president of sales and vice president of marketing—which the company expects to have filled before his departure.

Kohl’s Names Starbucks Exec to New Chief Customer Officer Job


people Wed, 05/22/2013 - 12:20pm

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis.–Kohl’s has appointed Michelle Gass to the newly created position of chief customer officer, reporting directly to Kohl’s Chairman, President and CEO Kevin Mansell.

Gass, who will join Kohl’s on June 17, will have leadership responsibility for Kohl’s branding across all channels. She will oversee all marketing efforts, the company’s high growth e-commerce business on kohls.com and the customer’s total omnichannel experience, the company said.

Pearson Joins Browne & Co.


people Wed, 05/22/2013 - 12:14pm

MARKHAM, Ontario–Browne & Co., a Canadian housewares marketing and distribution company, has named Jonathan Pearson national sales manager for the USA retail division. 

Pearson, a 20-year housewares veteran, reports directly to Peter Braley, chief operating officer, retail division. Pearson will be responsible for U.S. retail operations and the management of the company’s brands, which include Cuisipro, Kitchen Grips, Berard France and Nogent. He succeeds Deb Flynn, who left to take a position at another company.

Goldman to Step Down as Ellery CEO; Rovit Slated to Succeed


people Tue, 05/21/2013 - 12:30pm

NEW YORK-Ellery HomeStyles’ founder and CEO, Budd Goldman, will transition from his current role as CEO in December, to be succeeded by Hugh Rovit.

Goldman, who founded Ellery in 2000, will become co-chairman of the company’s board of directors at that time, and will continue to play a “strategic role” in the business, according to an Ellery statement.

Rovit, previously CEO of Sure Fit, joined Ellery yesterday. He served as Sure Fit’s CEO from April 2006 until December 2012, when the slipcover manufacturer was sold to Focus Products Group.

HSM Names VP of Innovation


people Mon, 05/20/2013 - 12:31pm

HICKORY, N.C.–HSM, the new name of Hickory Springs, has named Gregg Greulich corporate vice president of innovation and technology.

Responsible for developing a vision for the company’s growing engineering and research and development team, Greulich’s goals include the development of a portfolio of integrated products across the company’s transportation solutions, bedding solutions, furniture solutions and diversified solutions business units.

HSNi Taps Schmeling as COO and CFO


people Wed, 05/15/2013 - 12:07pm

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-Judy Schmeling has been promoted by HSNi to chief operating officer and chief financial officer.

Schmeling, who had served as executive vice president and chief financial officer since 2001, is now responsible for supply chain operations and customer-care functions as well as for leading the finance and information-technology sectors.

Kenney Promoted to President of Norwalk Furniture


people Tue, 05/14/2013 - 12:52pm

NORWALK, Ohio–Mike Kenney has been named president of Norwalk Furniture.

He succeeds Dan White, an investor that agreed to serve as interim president in 2008 when 12 Norwalk, Ohio-based families purchased the then-troubled furniture company. At that time, Kenney was named vice president of sales and marketing for the new Norwalk. A replacement for his former position has not been selected.

Pollard, Former Costco VP, Joins Abbyson Living Board


people Tue, 05/14/2013 - 12:51pm

LOS ANGELES–Mike Pollard, retired vice president of Costco Wholesale, has joined the board of directors of Abbyson Living.

Pollard retired from Costco Wholesale earlier this year. He’d held various management positions in warehouse operations, international, Internet technology and e-commerce since joining the company in 1985.

L.A. Mart Appoints Mascari Marketing Director


people Tue, 05/07/2013 - 12:12pm

LOS ANGELES–L.A. Mart has named Jennifer Mascari its new director of marketing.

Mascari joined the L.A. team on May 1st and will direct the execution of strategic marketing and communications initiatives, media relations and steward the forward thrust of L.A. Mart and L.A. Mart Design Center, the company said. Mascari also is charged with continuing the momentum created by the renaming of the gift & home markets now known as GALLA, Give and Live LA. She succeeds Trisha Schultz, who has taken a position outside of the industry.