Sears Canada president leaving job

Sears Canada is losing another top executive who has been on the job for less than a year.



The retailer announced that Carrie Kirkman is leaving her role as president and chief merchant to transition to an “advisory role.” In a statement, the company said Kirkman had been “brought aboard to focus on strategic brand partner development,” and that new brands will debut this fall. Kirkman will reportedly leave her post after July 30.



“I am not really surprised by this news because pretty much every year Sears Canada changes its top person, but I am surprised it happened this quickly,” said Bruce Winder, partner in Toronto-based Retail Advisors Network, in a report by the Financial Post. “Every time they bring in someone to grow or reform the business it fails to materialize. Kirkman was not given much of a chance if (merchandising) was her true mandate.”



Prior to becoming president of Sears Canada in November, Kirkman was interim president of Nine West Canada between August and November 2015. She served as president of Jones Apparel Group from October 2010 until April 2015.



The company also announced that industry veteran Heywood Wilansky, former CEO of Bon Ton Stores Inc. and DSW Inc., has been appointed senior advisor for merchandising, marketing and retail. Wilanksy joined Sears Canada’s board in June.



Sears Canada has seen its revenue decline for five consecutive years, falling to C$3.15 billion in 2015, from $6.5 billion in 2012 to $3.1 billion. In its most recent quarter, same-store sales fell 7.4%.



The company has been operating without a CEO since last July, when Ronald Boire stepped down after only six months in the top spot to head up Barnes & Noble. Boire’s departure followed the departures of two other short-serving chief executives.