Fred’s names Fennema evp, gmm

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 12/15/2004 11:14:00 AM

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- James Fennema, a 30-year veteran of the retail industry, has joined Fred's Inc as executive vice president and general merchandise manager.

Michael Hayes, CEO, said, "For more than 10 years, he has built a strong reputation for merchandise management in a retailing environment that shares many characteristics of our own, and he has proven skills in strategic planning, marketing plans, domestic and international sourcing and buying, inventory control and analysis, and team building.”

Since 1993, Fennema has been associated with Duckwall-Alco Stores, Inc., an Abilene, Kan.-based company that operates more than 250 discount and variety stores, as senior vice president and general merchandise manager. In a retailing career that began at Sears in 1973, he has held progressively higher assignments at companies such as Caldor, Fisher's Big Wheel, ShopKo, and Richman-Gordman.