Sears seeks retailing exec

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 7/12/2004 12:00:00 AM

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears, Roebuck and Co. is looking to fill a new position: president of Sears Retail.

The president of retail will oversee the company's full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States, and will spearhead the growth of Sears' off-mall strategy. Sears expects to operate some 70 new off-mall stores by the end of next year, including 12 to 14 Sears Grands and a new mid-size format announced last month with Sears' planned acquisition of up to 54 Kmart stores and seven Wal-Mart stores.

Sears also announced that Mark Cosby, executive vice president and president of full-line stores, is leaving the company to explore other opportunities, effective immediately.

The retail president also will oversee merchandising, supply chain management and marketing. Sears Chairman and CEO Alan Lacy will perform the functions of the position on an interim basis while the search is being conducted.

"We are establishing this important new position as part of the next phase of Sears' strategic plan, which involves execution of our off-mall growth program, full integration and alignment of the retail organization and the continuing turnaround of our mall-based stores," Lacy said.