Big Lots announces promotions, organizational changes

-- Home Textiles Today, 3/12/2010 9:18:00 AM

Columbus, Ohio – Broad-line closeout retail chain Big Lots has promoted four top executives and made other organizational changes.

Steven Smart has been promoted to svp, general merchandise manager. In addition to his current responsibility for consumables, he will assume additional responsibility for hardlines and play & wear. Smart joined Big Lots in May 2003 as vp, merchandise manager of consumables. Smart continues to report to John Martin, evp, merchandising.

Robert Segal, svp, general merchandise manager, who is currently responsible for the home and furniture categories, now assumes additional responsibility for the seasonal category. Segal continues to report to John Martin, evp, merchandising.

Lisa Bachmann has been promoted to evp, supply chain management and chief information officer, with additional responsibility for distribution and transportation services. 

Joe Cooper has been promoted to evp, cfo, with additional responsibility for loss prevention and risk management. 

Charles Haubiel II has been promoted to evp, legal and real estate, with additional responsibility for the company's employment litigation and general liability administration functions currently associated with risk management. 

Big Lots, which operated more than 1,360 stores in 47 states, is also announcing the retirement of Brad A. Waite, evp, human resources, loss prevention, and risk management, a 22-year veteran of the store.

Steve Fishman, chairman, ceo and president, said these announcements come on the heels of Big Lots’ reporting its third consecutive year of record earnings.