Retail Trend: Hiring Right As A Cornerstone Of Retail Innovation

A talented leader is always in-demand. As both the broader economy and consumer behavior undergo somewhat sweeping macro shifts, retailers are looking to the coming year and beyond and finding that a fresh set of eyes may just offer the elevated perspective they need to reach new heights within this emergent environment. 

Foot Locker taps Ulta CEO to revamp long-term vision
Mary Dillon will take over the reins at Foot Locker at the start of September. She will be tasked with changing the retailer’s narrative by right-sizing and relocating the store fleet, boosting e-commerce, and evolving the merchandising mix into a “house of exciting brands from primarily a retailer of Nike products.” Reuters

Walgreens creates new chief store design role, fills it with Starbucks exec
Min Cho, previously vice president of global concepts in the growth and concepts organization at Starbucks, will take on a new position at Walgreens overseeing the retailer’s store design and architecture with a focus on innovations that embrace creativity and functionality to reinvent the in-store experience. DSN

Saks looks to insider for “premier traveler destination” strategy
As Saks looks to boost its bottom line by capturing the spend of tourists returning to major areas, the department store is creating a new executive position devoted to travel and tourism strategy and filling it with Kathleen Shea. A Saks insider, Shea previously worked at SaksWorks, the division of the company that creates coworking spaces within Saks Fifth Avenue stores. TDN

Neiman Marcus hires Williams Sonoma president to strengthen its brand 
The former president of Williams Sonoma, Ryan Ross, is heading to Neiman Marcus to fill the same role. Ross will be responsible for driving integrated channel strategies and evolving the brand and customer experience. Press Release

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