Kmart scales back field organizations to two

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 5/20/2002 12:00:00 AM

TROY, MI —

Kmart Corp. has streamlined its senior-level management team and aligned its field organization from five divisions to two.

As a result, a number of positions in its logistics, real estate and merchandising divisions at its Kmart Resource Center here have been eliminated.

"This new realignment will bring senior management closer to the business, reduce overhead and cut costs," said James Adamson, chairman and ceo. "Additionally, it will streamline our field operations and allow for more decision-making to occur closer to the customer at the regional, district and store levels."

Kmart will now have two divisions, eastern and western, each supporting more than 900 stores. Dave Marsico has been named division president, eastern division, and Doug Meissner, division president, western division. Marsico has been with Kmart since 1972, serving in a variety of field and executive positions, most recently as senior vp, sales and advertising. Meissner, a 29-year Kmart veteran, was most recently division president, Northeast.

In addition, Paul Hueber has been named senior vp, operations administration, responsible for general store operating policy, administration and specialty operations within the store, such as restaurants, real estate and construction. Previously division president, international and specialty operations, Hueber joined Kmart in 1970.

Marsico, Meissner and Hueber all report to Julian Day, president and coo.

The streamlined process also eliminated a number of positions, including Steve Falcon, regional vp, Super Centers; John Foster, senior vp, real estate management; Michael Frank, senior vp, gmm, food and consumables; Mark Glover, vp, replenishment; Joe Hofmeister, divisional vp, merchandising celebration; Mike Jardina, divisional president, Super Centers; Greg Keith, divisional vp, corporate purchasing; Enio Montini, senior vp and gmm, drugstore; Rose Reza, senior vp, multi-cultural merchandising; Paul Springthorpe, senior vp, distribution centers; Jeff Stark, vp, pricing; and William Wulfers, division president, Southeast. Kmart said that for most of these positions, job responsibilities would be integrated or absorbed by others within the company.