Lowe’s makes management shifts

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. Inc. said Thursday it has named Michael Jones chief merchandising officer, effective immediately. Jones was previously president of the North American and Latin American divisions of Husqvarna, an outdoor equipment manufacturer.



The retailer also announced that Stephen J. Szilagyi has been promoted to supply chain executive, from his current position as SVP distribution.



There has been talk in the industry about either of the two being groomed for the CEO spot, but Lowe’s chief customer officer said Thursday in an interview with Bloomberg that the executive shifts were part of the normal course of doing business.



“We always hire new executives to these senior positions at Lowe’s who have the ability to go beyond just the responsibilities we’re asking them to step into,” Greg Bridgeford told Bloomberg. “There are no discussions about Robert [Niblock, current CEO] leaving his current position.”