C-Suite Moves: September update
Here are the major C-suite changes that occurred in retail September, starting with the most recent. (All changes have already taken effect unless otherwise noted.)
•Albertsons Companies Inc. named company veteran Cody Perdue as interim CFO. He succeeds Sharon McCollam, who previously announced her plans to retire.
•Furniture retailer and manufacturer Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. launched a search to replace its longtime CEO. Farooq Kathwari, 82, who has led the company for nearly 40 years. The board plans to announced a new CEO by June 30, 2027, the date on which his contract ends.
•KnitWell Group, the parent company of Ann Taylor, Chico’s, Lane Bryant and other specialty apparel brands, appointed Angelica Munson to the newly created role of chief digital & customer data officer. She most recently served as global chief digital officer at Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido Group.
•Global sports footwear and fashion company JD Sports promoted John Mersho to president and CEO, JD North America. Mersho, who has held the role of chief commercial officer for JD North America since 2025, succeeds John Hall, who is retiring after a four-decade career in retail.
•Target Corp, tapped hospitality veteran Mark Weinstein as chief marketing and guest experience officer. He joins Target following 16 years at Hilton Hotels & Resorts, where he most recently served as global chief marketing officer for all 28 brands and Hilton Honors, as well as head of luxury brands.
•Off-price value retailer Citi Trends Inc. has started a search to replace CFO Heather Plutino, who has decided to step down from her role for "personal reasons."
•Rent the Runway named a 30-year retail veteran Paige Thomas as CEO. She succeeds board member Teri Bariquit who has served as president and interim chief since Rent the the Runway co-founder Jennifer Hyman departed in May. Thomas joined Rent the Runway as chief commercial officer in June 2026. She previously held executive roles at Signet Jewelers, Saks Off 5th and Nordstrom,
•Albertsons Companies named Meg Whitman to the newly created role of executive chair. Whitman served as president and CEO of eBay Inc. from 1998 to 2008, going on to lead Hewlett-Packard.
In addition to leading the Albertsons board, Whitman will serve as an operations and strategic advisor to company CEO Susan Morris and her senior team.
•Kimberley Gardiner was named executive VP, chief marketing and growth officer of The Vitamin Shoppe. She joins from Tractor Supply Company, where she served as senior VP and chief marketing officer since 2022.
•Academy Sports + Outdoors appointed Matthew (Matt) M. Pasch to the role of executive VP and chief people officer. Most recently, he served as executive VP, chief human resources officer of Burlington Stores.
•The Kroger Co. named Mark Ibbotson as executive VP and chief store operations officer. His previous roles included senior VP of innovation at Walmart U.S.
•Nick Konat, currently president and COO of Sprouts Farmers Market will take on the role of CEO and join the board of directors, effective Jan. 4. He will succeed Jack Sinclair, who has served as CEO since 2019, who will move to the role of executive chairman.
•Kohl's Corp. named Ryan M. Waymire as chief merchandising officer. He replaces Nick Jones, who has been serving in the role since 2023.
