Management Shakeup at Retail Ventures

Retail Ventures Inc. (Columbus, Ohio) has named department store executive Heywood Wilansky as president and ceo. Wilansky had been president and ceo of Filene’s Basement, a Retail Ventures subsidiary.

He succeeds John Rossler, who, along with executive vp and coo Edwin Kozlowski, has left the company. “John Rossler and Ed Kozlowski have been instrumental in the expansion of the number of RVI stores,” said RVI chairman Jay Schottenstein. “They have made valuable contributions, and we wish them well.”

Wilansky will be replaced as president of Filene’s Basement by Mark Shulman, currently coo of Retail Brand Alliance (Enfield, Conn.), the operator of the Casual Corner, Petite Sophisticate, Brooks Brothers and Carolee Designs retail nameplates and the Adrienne Vittadini fashion brand. Shulman was also formerly president and ceo of Henri Bendel, New York-based division of Limited Brands Inc. (Columbus, Ohio) and Ann Taylor (New York).

“We are delighted that Wilansky has agreed to lead RVI at this vital time,” Schottenstein said. “He is a proven leader with impeccable credentials who will tackle the challenges posed by a tough retail marketplace.”

Before coming to RVI, Wilansky served as president and ceo of The Bon Ton Stores Inc. (York, Pa.) and president and ceo of two divisions of The May Department Stores Co. (St. Louis), Lord & Taylor and The Hecht Co.

In simultaneous appointments, Deborah Ferree, executive vp, chief merchandising officer, of DSW, another RVI subsidiary, will become president; and Jerald Politzer, Filene’s Basement’s executive vp, merchandising, will become president of yet another RVI subsidiary, the Value City Department Stores, replacing Stuart Glasser, who has resigned.

Retail Ventures operates 116 Value City Department Stores in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and southeastern U.S., 25 Filene’s Basement Stores in the Northeast and 167 DSW Shoe Warehouse Stores in major metropolitan areas throughout the country.

For a look at Retail Venture's most recent sales and financial report, along with several other retailers, see the Retail Financial Reports channel on this morning's home page.