Four execs depart as Duckwall streamlines  

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 4/15/2008 1:02:00 PM

Abilene, Kan. – In what it called the “first step in a multiphase program to streamline,” rural general merchandiser Duckwall-ALCO Stores said that “four members of corporate management have been terminated.”

Execs departing the 261-store retailer are:

* John Sturdivant, svp store operations;

* Ron Mapp, svp merchandising;

* Mike Gawin, vp and dmm softlines;

* Virginia Meyer, vp marketing.

Store ops will now be overseen by Phil Hixon, who arrived from Michael’s Stores in December and was named svp store development in February. Bob Swartz is elevated from vp-dmm hardlines to vp, gmm; Brent Streit is promoted from vp-supply chain management to vp supply chain and marketing.

“We recognized that reducing corporate staff is imperative,” said interim ceo Donny Johnson, commenting on fiscal evaluation supervised by the recently appointed board of directors. “We are implementing a plan to cut expenses and improve operations, streamline the organization and strengthen our senior management team.”