Former Target dept. store merchant named CEO at bedding company

Shelly Ibach, a former merchant at Target back when the company had a department store division, will replace Bill McLaughlin as president and CEO at Minneapolis-based mattress manufacturer and retailer Select Comfort.

Ibach’s connection to Target dates back to the period from 2004 to 2007 when she served as SVP/GMM home at Marshall Fields, which at the time was part of Target’s department store division before it was sold to Macy’s. Prior to Target, Ibach was with Macy’s from 1982 to 2004. She joined Select Comfort as an SVP sales, was named EVP sales and merchandising in 2008 and then last year was elevated to COO.

“Shelly’s deep experience in retail, brand and product combined with her talent for developing high-performing, customer-centric teams make her the right leader to build on the strong foundation established by Bill,” said Select Comfort board chairman Jean-Michel Valette.

Ibach joined Select Comfort in 2007 and for the past 18 months the company said she was one of the key architects behind its profitable growth strategy that combines increasing brand and store awareness with accelerated local-market development, elevating the in-store and service experience and advancing product innovation.

“Sleep Number’s differentiated products, ownership of all consumer touch points and mission-driven team, means we are in the unique position to offer an unparalleled brand experience for customers,” Ibach said. “By fully leveraging these attributes, we can transform a large, undifferentiated industry and become an iconic brand.”

Select Comfort operates 380 stores nationwide.