Ex-Toys exec to lead B&N digital division

Barnes & Noble Inc. has hired a new chief for its digital division as the retailer rethinks the leadership of its Nook business.

The retailer has named Frederic D. Argir as VP and chief digital officer overseeing the e-commerce and Nook businesses, which are part of the retail division.



Argir joins Barnes & Noble from Toys ‘R Us Inc., where he also served as chief digital officer. Barnes & Noble also said that Mahesh Veerina, president of the Nook consumer business, will leave the company on Feb. 1, 2016.

“We are very excited to welcome Fred Argir, an accomplished e-commerce/omnichannel leader who brings a deep understanding of retail, e-commerce, information technology and supply chain,” said COO Jaime Carey. “Fred’s proven track record for driving organizations to high levels of performance and profitability make him an ideal choice to run our e-commerce and NOOK businesses.”

Argir joined Toys “R” Us in 2012. In his role as CDO, he oversaw digital businesses in 13 countries. Prior to that, he was CIO at The Sports Authority, Inc., where he led the organization through a formal web redesign, incrementally increasing page conversion through a focus on improved usability and experience. He also served as a consultant to Best Buy, where he collaborated on productivity and strategic technology investments. Argir also spent five years at Target Corporation as VP of supply chain development. Additionally, he served on the board of the global commerce initiative.