‘Toys’ executive to lead Brookstone

A Toys“R”Us executive will take over the top post at Brookstone, the product development company and specialty retailer that emerged from bankruptcy this year after being bought by a group of Chinese investors.

“We were impressed by Tom's success at rejuvenating businesses and by his broad and deep achievements as a senior executive in the retail industry,” Piau Phang Foo, chairman of the board of directors, said. “He has demonstrated success at driving innovation and growth globally."

Via spent the past 12 years at Toys"R"Us, most recently as its senior vice president for Babies"R"Us in the United States, where he was responsible for providing leadership for the company's juvenile product growth strategy and served on the Global Commercial Committee.

From 2010 to 2013 he was managing director of Toys"R"Us, Australia, where he was responsible for all operations and business activities for the company's Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us brands. Previously, he served as senior vice president, Toys"R"Us, Canada, where he was responsible for all merchandising, marketing and store planning activities for the Canada division. Via helped direct the expansion of the Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us integrated store format in Canada, as well as the launch of Toysrus.com.ca. Prior to joining Toys"R"Us, Via held merchandising positions at Walmart (Canada), Payless ShoeSource, Kmart, and Hills Department Stores.

“Very few retailers have the power of the Brookstone brand, its heritage as an innovator and product developer, plus Brookstone's unique ability to distribute creative lifestyle products through multiple channels,” Via said.

Brookstone’s new owners, Chinese retailer Sanpower Group and Chinese investment firm Sailing Capital, have said they plan to expand Brookstone’s brand abroad, including to mainland China. The new ownersbought the company at a bankruptcy auctionin June for $174 million, trumping an offer from an affiliate of Spencer Spirit Holdings Inc., the parent company of the Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween retail chains.