Staples Taps New President of North American Retail Operations
July 11 2016 - 10:00AM
Dow Jones News
Office-supply seller Staples Inc. on Monday named a new head of
its North American retail operations, the latest executive shift at
the company as it tries to evolve to meet consumer needs.
Staples named Steve Matyas, a 25-year veteran of its Canadian
business, as president of North American retail operations. Mr.
Matyas had previously served as president of Staples Canada since
July 2000. He was the first employee at Business Depot Ltd. in
Canada in March 1991. Staples acquired Business Depot in August of
1994. Mr. Matyas also served as the company's vice president of
operations, human resources and store planning, and sales and
operations.
Interim Chief Executive Shira Goodman said Mr. Matyas has a
"proven track record of delivering profitable growth and
innovation," which will benefit the company as it attempts to
combat a slowing retail industry.
"Realigning our retail leadership will strengthen our position
as we continue to right-size our store network and evolve to meet
the changing needs of business customers," said Ms. Goodman.
Staples named Ms. Goodman its interim CEO in May after its
longtime chief executive Ron Sargent agreed to resign from his
position following the retailer's failed attempt at a merger with
Office Depot Inc. Mr. Sargent and the board had staked their
company's future on the roughly $6 billion deal, which was blocked
when a judge agreed with the Federal Trade Commission that the
combination would lead to higher prices for large corporations that
buy office supplies in bulk.
Both companies still sell billions of dollars of printer
cartridges, paper reams and other workplace basics each year, but
that market is in decline as more offices go digital. In addition,
consumers are increasingly shifting toward online shopping with
retailers like Amazon.com Inc. hurting sales in the traditional
brick-and-mortar retail industry. Amazon said in May that Amazon
Business sales topped $1 billion a year, as it continues to build
its own business-focused delivery service.
Staples and many other U.S. retailers recently made
modifications to store executive teams after a disappointing
holiday sales season. In January, the office supplier replaced its
recently-named head of North American stores and online operations,
Demos Parenos, with Otis Pannel. At the time, Ms. Goodman was also
promoted to president of North American operations.
Target Corp. earlier this year fired Chief Stores Officer Tina
Tyler and tapped Janna Potts, its human resources chief, to fill
the role after the company tested new online delivery methods for
the holiday rush. Department store J.C. Penney Co. in January named
Joe McFarland as its stores chief, replacing Tony Bartlett.
Staples stock has fallen 20% over the past three months. Shares
were inactive premarket.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 11, 2016 09:45 ET (13:45 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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