Kirkland's names new CFO
Kirkland’s Inc. is bolstering its leadership team ahead of its planned rebrand and store conversion accelerations.
The company, which will change its corporate name to The Brand House Collective, Inc. pending shareholder approval at the company's annual meeting on July 24, has tapped new leaders to oversee key aspects of its future operations.
In addition to the rebrand, Kirkland’s says it will undergo an “operational reset” to streamline its physical footprint. Kirkland's currently has 313 stores in 35 states, but says it plans to "move forward" with approximately 290 locations as the "foundational" footprint for Kirkland's Home, Bed Bath & Beyond Home and Overstock stores.
Andrea Courtois will join Kirkland’s Inc. as senior VP and chief financial officer effective July 21, succeeding Mike Madden, who plans to pursue other opportunities but will remain in an advisory position until Aug. 15 to facilitate a smooth transition. Madden has spent more than 20 years in total at Kirkland's, and has served as CFO since September of 2022. From February 2015 to June 2018, he served as the company's chief executive.
Incoming CFO Courtois has over two decades of financial expertise, and has most recently served as VP of financial planning and analysis at women’s apparel retailer Francesca's since May 2023. She has also held financial leadership roles at La Senza, Lane Bryant and Lands' End.
In other appointments, Michael Sheridan joined the company as senior VP, general counsel & corporate secretary on June 30, overseeing all legal affairs, talent and culture, and corporate governance. He held the position in an interim role with the company over recent weeks. Sheridan brings over two decades of experience and a track record of legal and executive leadership at Community Brands, Ceridian and Comdata.
Finally, Mandy Gauldin has been promoted to VP of talent & culture, having been a key leader in the company's human resources organization for eight years. Prior to joining the company in 2017, she held diverse, customer-facing team leadership roles in the consumer and retail sectors at California Closets and Estee Lauder.
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"Today's leadership announcements reflect continued momentum in advancing our transformation," said Amy Sullivan, CEO of Kirkland's, Inc. "We are building a disciplined, performance-led, multi-brand operating model designed to scale profitably. As we evolve, we will continue to elevate talent, recognizing the leaders who are driving change from within and bringing in the expertise we need to go further, faster. The team we are building brings a powerful mix of fresh perspectives and deep expertise, united by a clear mandate: move faster, lead with accountability and drive meaningful outcomes. As The Brand House Collective, we're raising expectations and building an organization that delivers results brand by brand.”
