Executive Changes at Sears

Sears Holdings Corp. (Hoffman Estates, Ill.), the nation's third largest broadline retailer, has named new executives to handle the marketing and customer strategy for its Sears Roebuck and Kmart stores and Lands' End clothing business. It also announced that its chief merchant, Luis Padilla, is leaving the company for undisclosed reasons.

Maureen McGuire was named to the newly created position of executive vp and chief marketing officer. McGuire was previously a vp for strategy and marketing at IBM, where she worked for 30 years.

Corwin Yulinsky was appointed executive vp, customer strategy and insight. Yulinsky was head of the financial institutions practice at management consulting firm McKinsey and Co. and previously worked as a senior vp at Chase Manhattan Bank.

McGuire and Yulinsky will report to chairman Edward Lampert, rather than ceo Aylwin Lewis, who replaced Alan Lacy last month. The appointments come six weeks after Lampert, announced he would direct the marketing, merchandising, design and online businesses at Sears Holdings and Lands' End.

“These two experienced and highly effective executives will bring Sears Holdings a new level of creativity and focus on marketing and our customer relationships,” Lampert said. “I particularly value the winning attitude and record of success that they will bring to Sears Holdings, and I expect them to help lead the ongoing change in Sears' culture.”

David McCreight was also promoted to president of Lands' End, a role he had been serving on an interim basis since August. The company also said it is seeking a replacement for Padilla, who is leaving at the end of the month. “With these announcements, we are well on our way to putting in place the team that will help lead the changes in Sears Holdings that are necessary to more quickly and fully meet the needs of our customers and earn their trust,” said Lampert. “We have a great deal to accomplish, and the people we attract and retain are critical to our success.”

Sears operates approximately 3900 full-line and specialty retail stores in the U.S. and Canada.