Brookstone exec new Sears chief merchant

HTT Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 1/3/2012 8:10:45 AM

Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Sears Holding has tapped Ron Boire as its new executive vp and chief merchandising officer and president, filling a top merchandizing spot that had long been open.
He was most recently president and ceo of Brookstone, a multi-channel retailer specializing in gadgetry.
Boire will head up merchandising and retail stores for both Sears and Kmart.
"We are in the midst of a transformation of our business, from top to bottom, as we seek to become the leading integrated retailer in the country," said Lou D'Ambrosio, Sears Holdings' chief executive officer and president. The appointment, he added, would accelerate the transformation.
Before joining Brookstone, Boire was president, U.S. Toys, North America for Toys "R" Us from 2006 to 2009, responsible for 600 stores in the U.S. and 70 in Canada. Prior to that, he was executive vp, global merchandise manager for Best Buy. He spent the previous 17 years in several senior roles at Sony Electronics, including president of Sony's Consumer Sales Company and president of Sony's Personal Mobile Products Company.
Boire said of Sears Holding: "As a company with over $40 billion in sales, millions of customers, irreplaceable brands, thousands of stores and committed associates, we have a lot to work with to improve our business and delight our customers."