The May Department Stores Co. (St. Louis) has named Gregory Ott senior vp, strategy and new business development, effective Oct. 27, 2003. Ott, who replaces William Edkins, will report to chairman and ceo Gene Kahn. Edkins continues as a consultant to the company.
Ott will oversee the development of May's strategic plans and initiatives in support of sales growth, will be involved in evaluating advertising and media strategies and will supervise the company's consumer research programs.
Previously a senior engagement manager with McKinsey & Co., the international strategic planning and consulting firm, Ott had spent seven years with Macy's West (the San Francisco-based division of Federated Department Stores, Cincinnati), first as senior vp, president of planning and systems, later senior vp, marketing and advertising. In 2000, he joined Homewarehouse.com, an online home improvement site, as vp, product management and marketing. Most recently, he was president of See Change Services, a division of APL Logistics (Oakland, Calif.), a global consulting company specializing in retail and consumer supply chains.