Coldwater Creek CEO to retire; to be succeeded by chief merchandising officer

Sandpoint, Idaho -- Coldwater Creek Inc. announced that co-founder Dennis Pence will retire as president and CEO, effective December 31, 2012. He will remain as a director and continue to serve as chairman of the board until January 1, 2014.



Pence will be succeeded as president and CEO by Coldwater president and chief merchandising officer Jill Brown Dean, effective January 1, 2013. Dean has also been appointed to serve on the board of directors, effective January 1, 2013.



"It gives me great satisfaction to announce today the succession of Jill to the role of CEO,” Pence said. “Her outstanding leadership, combined with her intimate knowledge of our customer and our brand, gives me great confidence in her ability to continue to lead the turnaround of our company, positioning us for a vibrant and successful second chapter in our history.”



Dean joined Coldwater Creek in February 2011, as president and chief merchandising officer. Prior to that, she served as president of the Limited Too division of Tween Brands from October 2006 to April 2008.



In other news, Michele Donnan Martin will join Coldwater Creek as SVP, general merchandise manager, and will be responsible for leading all product merchandising functions. Previously, she was the brand president, Retail and Direct at Delia's.