Help Wanted: Six retailers with open CEO positions

The “help wanted” sign is out at several big retail chains.

There was no shortage of CEO shake-ups in 2022 and the trend has continued in the new year with the abrupt resignation of Sharon Leite, CEO of The Vitamin Shoppe, at the beginning of January.

With Leite’s exit, The Vitamin Shoppe joined the following other retail companies that are also searching for a new leader.

• Conn’s: Chandra Holt, a former Walmart exec, stepped down as CEO of the furniture, appliance and electronics retailer in October, after only 14 months on the job. Former CEO Norman Miller, whom Holt succeeded, has stepped back in on an interim basis.

• Gap Inc.: The apparel retailer has been searching for a new CEO since Sonia Syngal abruptly left the post in July. Meanwhile, industry veteran Bob Martin, the company's current executive chairman, is serving as interim chief.  He’s been on the Gap board since 2002.

• Rite Aid: The pharmacy retailer appointed board member Elizabeth (“Busy”) Burr as interim chief executive following the sudden departure of Heyward Donigan, who held the position since August 2019.  Her exit came as Rite Aid has struggled to compete with pharmacy rivals CVS Health and Walgreens, both of which have made extensive inroads into the broader field of health care.

• VF Corp.: In a surprise departure, Steve Rendle stepped down as president, CEO and chairman of the parent company of The North Face, Timberland, Vans and other brands. VF said that Rendle retired "by mutual agreement with the board." Benno Dorer, lead independent director of the VF board of Directors, is serving as interim president and CEO.

• Vitamin Shoppe: Sharon Leite announced her resignation as CEO of the vitamin and nutritional products specialty retailer on her LinkedIn page at the start of January. Leite, who was named to the top spot in 2018, has since been named CEO of Tampa-based Ideal Aesthetics, which provides aesthetic services including laser hair removal, body sculpting, Botox, fillers, skin rejuvenation and more. Vitamin Shoppe has said a new chief executive will be announced at a later date.

• PriceSmart: Sherry Bahrambeygui left her post as CEO of PriceSmart, which operates 50 membership warehouse clubs in Latin America and the Caribbean, in February to pursue professional and philanthropic interests.  Company founder and chairman Robert Price has stepped in as interim chief.