Leadership change at Williams-Sonoma
The president of Williams-Sonoma is stepping down.
Williams-Sonoma announced that Janet Hayes, president of the Williams-Sonoma brand, is resigning, effective Aug. 1. Hayes, who joined the company in 2007, has been in her current role since 2013. She will be succeeded by Ryan Ross, who is currently William-Sonoma’s executive VP of emerging brands.
“On behalf of the board and senior management team, I would like to thank Janet for her valuable contributions over her tenure at our company,” said CEO Laura Alber. “Her leadership of Williams Sonoma was instrumental to the brand’s success, significantly expanding its reach with new customers, chefs and food communities across the country. She was also a strong advocate for innovation, product exclusivity and entrepreneurship, strengthening Williams Sonoma’s position as one of the leading multichannel retailers of high-quality housewares.”
With over 20 years of retail experience, Ross held positions of increasing responsibility within the company’s Pottery Barn division from 2000 to 2008, including VP of bed and bath, and VP of eCommerce. He gained international experience as the director of Harrods Direct in London. He then became a founding executive and chief creative officer of the Stylus Media Group. Prior to his return to Williams-Sonoma in 2017 to lead Rejuvenation, he served as executive VP of marketing and digital commerce at Home Shopping Network.
Williams-Sonoma announced that Janet Hayes, president of the Williams-Sonoma brand, is resigning, effective Aug. 1. Hayes, who joined the company in 2007, has been in her current role since 2013. She will be succeeded by Ryan Ross, who is currently William-Sonoma’s executive VP of emerging brands.
“On behalf of the board and senior management team, I would like to thank Janet for her valuable contributions over her tenure at our company,” said CEO Laura Alber. “Her leadership of Williams Sonoma was instrumental to the brand’s success, significantly expanding its reach with new customers, chefs and food communities across the country. She was also a strong advocate for innovation, product exclusivity and entrepreneurship, strengthening Williams Sonoma’s position as one of the leading multichannel retailers of high-quality housewares.”
With over 20 years of retail experience, Ross held positions of increasing responsibility within the company’s Pottery Barn division from 2000 to 2008, including VP of bed and bath, and VP of eCommerce. He gained international experience as the director of Harrods Direct in London. He then became a founding executive and chief creative officer of the Stylus Media Group. Prior to his return to Williams-Sonoma in 2017 to lead Rejuvenation, he served as executive VP of marketing and digital commerce at Home Shopping Network.