Sears revamps home management
Carole Sloan -- Furniture Today, May 19, 2003
Hoffman Estates, Ill. — In a radical change of buying responsibilities and reporting relationships, Sears has placed longtime hard lines executive Lyle Heidemann in charge of all the company's home merchandise in full-line stores.
The move, made last week, "was done to better align our full-line stores with our corporate priorities," said Mark Cosby, executive vice president of Sears and president of the full-line stores. He said the change arranges the organizational structure around customers needs — "selection of the right products and realigning the merchandising functions to maximize efficiencies."
Heidemann, formerly executive vice president and general merchandise manager for hard lines, is now executive vice president, home and off-mall stores, excluding The Great Indoors and the new test Sears Grand stores. He oversees home fashions, appliances and electronics, and other home goods.
Barbara Pizzella, who headed the home fashions division since July 2002, remains vice president and general merchandise manager, but is now responsible for bedding, bath, window coverings, home accents, rugs and closet. She reports to Heidemann.
Jim Thorpe, formerly divisional merchandise manager, home electronics, has been named vice president and general merchandise manager for mattresses, cookware/tableware, personal care, home environment, sewing machines and vacuum cleaners. He also reports to Heidemann.
Leslie Mann, senior vice president, who formerly was responsible for home fashions, continues to have responsibility for footwear, accessories, jewelry and intimate apparel.
This shift in duties is the third at Sears since last year, when home fashion was split between Mark Grand, who later left the company, and Pizzella.
