Bed Bath & Beyond taps former Target exec for new role

Bed Bath & Beyond continues to shore up its leadership ranks with new hires.

The home furnishings retailer named Anu Gupta as chief strategy and transformation officer, effective October 5, 2020. Gupta will be responsible for Bed Bath & Beyond’s strategy and transformation program, including helping to modernize its operating model, enhance the digital-first, “omni-always” shopping experience for customers, and increase profitability across the business.

Gupta joins Bed Bath & Beyond from JYVE Corp., a retail technology platform and talent marketplace, where she was COO. Previously, from 2015 to 2018, Gupta was senior VP, strategy execution and operational excellence at Target Corp., where she was responsible for a multi-year initiative to restructure the retailer’s product portfolio, digital and operational capabilities, and go-to-market processes. 
 
Prior to Target, Gupta held leadership positions at private equity firm Hellman & Friedman, The Michaels Companies and Safeway Inc. Bed Bath & Beyond has made a number of executive appointments in recent months as the retailer continues to reorganize and transform under the direction of CEO Mark Tritton, himself a former Target executive. Earlier this month, the company named Rick Wilkins as regional VP for the West region. (Wilkins’ resume also includes a stint at Target.) Also in September, it named Juan Guerrero as senior VP, chief supply chain officer, and Wade E. Haddad as senior VP, real estate and construction. 

"As we continue to transform our company into a truly omnichannel retailer, we need dynamic, unconventional, and expert leaders like Anu to lead change across the organization,” said John Hartmann, COO. “Anu's industry experience, strategic leadership and operational expertise will help us execute our vision while we create a strong, durable business model for the future."