Bed Bath & Beyond names new CFO, digital chief and head of stores

Bed Bath & Beyond continues to shore up its leadership team as part of its turnaround efforts under new CEO Mark Tritton. 

Tritton has transformed the ranks of Bed Bath & Beyond’s senior team since he took the reins of the struggling home goods chain in late 2019. Among his first moves was the ousting Bed Bath & Beyond’s chief merchandising officer, marketing officer, digital officer, its general counsel and chief administrative officer. In early March, he tapped former Walgreens chief merchant Joe Hartsig as chief merchandising officer, and John Hardmann as COO. 

In its new round of appointments, Bed Bath & Beyond named Gustavo Arnal as executive VP and CFO, effective May 4. He will replace outgoing CFO and treasurer Robyn D’Elia, who served as CFO since 2018.

Arnal joins the company from Avon, where he served as group CFO. Prior to that, he was CFO, international divisions and global functions at Walgreens Boots Alliance. He also held senior roles at Procter & Gamble.

In other appointments:

• Rafeh Masood joins the company as executive VP, chief digital officer, effective May 11. Masood was most recently senior VP, chief digital officer at BJ's Wholesale Club. Prior to BJ's, Masood was VP, customer innovation technology at Dick's Sporting Goods, and VP, integrated retail solutions and technology at Sears Holdings. 

• Gregg Melnick will assume the role of executive VP, chief stores officer, effective May 11, from his current role as the company's interim chief digital officer. Melnick joined Bed Bath & Beyond in 2018 as COO, digital. Previously, he was president of Party City Holdings. 

• Arlene Hong joins the company as executive VP, chief legal officer and corporate secretary, effective May 18. Hong was formerly chief legal officer, senior VP and corporate secretary, FullBeauy Brands, prior to which she held a number of senior legal positions at J.Crew and Amazon.

With its stores closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Bed Bath & Beyond’s focus has shifted to its digital operations. It has converted about 25% of its Bed Bath & Beyond stores and Buybuy Baby locations into regional fulfillment centers. It also is rolling out curbside pickup.

"We remain committed to rebuilding our business and strengthening our ability to serve our loyal customers, while we respond to the challenges presented by COVID-19,” said Tritton. “We are continuing to bring in experienced, passionate leaders of change into our business, with strong expertise in business transformation and omnichannel retail.”