Change of leadership at two retail companies
Petco Animal Supplies and Rue 21 have both appointed new chief executives—one with a tech background, and the other a retail veteran.
Petco named Ron Coughlin as CEO, effective June 18, replacing Brad Weston who has had the job since February 2016. Coughlin joins Petco from HP Inc., where he served for 11 years, most recently as president of Personal Systems. Prior to joining HP, Coughlin spent 12 years at PepsiCo in a range of senior executive roles, including chief marketing officer of PepsiCo International Beverages. For more about the Petco story, click here.
Rue21 has appointed Laurie Van Brunt as president and CEO, effective June 25, 2018. She succeeds Michael C. Appel who was named interim chief executive in October 2017. (He will continue to serve as chairman.)
Van Brunt joins the teen apparel retailer from Chico's FAS, Inc, where she was president of Soma Intimates from 2010 to 2017, where she helped grow sales from $87 million to $350 million.
Prior to Chico's, Van Brunt was corporate VP, director of private brand management at J. C. Penney Company, from 2005 to 2010, where she managed the company's private brand portfolio of 22 brands across all merchandise categories. Earlier in her career, she served in senior management roles at Chadwick's of Boston, and the Lane Bryant division of The Limited.
In addition to naming a new CEO, Rue21 also appointed a new CFO and a new marketing chief. For more, click here.
Petco named Ron Coughlin as CEO, effective June 18, replacing Brad Weston who has had the job since February 2016. Coughlin joins Petco from HP Inc., where he served for 11 years, most recently as president of Personal Systems. Prior to joining HP, Coughlin spent 12 years at PepsiCo in a range of senior executive roles, including chief marketing officer of PepsiCo International Beverages. For more about the Petco story, click here.
Rue21 has appointed Laurie Van Brunt as president and CEO, effective June 25, 2018. She succeeds Michael C. Appel who was named interim chief executive in October 2017. (He will continue to serve as chairman.)
Van Brunt joins the teen apparel retailer from Chico's FAS, Inc, where she was president of Soma Intimates from 2010 to 2017, where she helped grow sales from $87 million to $350 million.
Prior to Chico's, Van Brunt was corporate VP, director of private brand management at J. C. Penney Company, from 2005 to 2010, where she managed the company's private brand portfolio of 22 brands across all merchandise categories. Earlier in her career, she served in senior management roles at Chadwick's of Boston, and the Lane Bryant division of The Limited.
In addition to naming a new CEO, Rue21 also appointed a new CFO and a new marketing chief. For more, click here.