The Supply Side retailer briefs

• Barnes & Noble CEO resigns

Barnes & Noble Inc. executive William Lynch stepped down as CEO this week, effective immediately. The resignation comes on the heels of weak sales and mounting losses.
Lynch spent three years in the role as the retailer has struggled to find success.

Chief Financial Officer Michael Huseby will become president of the company and CEO of its Nook Media unit. Controller Allen Lindstrom will succeed Huseby as chief financial officer.


Revenue at stores open at least a year dropped 8.8% and overall retail sales, which include Barnes & Noble bookstores and online sales, tumbled 10%, in part because of store closings.

Lynch came to Barnes & Noble from the home shopping network HSN Inc. as president of its online business in February 2009, taking over as CEO in 2010.

• Williams-Sonoma management shuffle
The San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma hired David Jimenez as senior vice president of visual and store experience and has given three of its existing senior vice presidents new roles.


Jimenez came to Williams-Sonoma from Hallmark, where he was vice president for visual merchandising and store design. Prior to that, he worked at several other Bay Area-based retailers, including Gap, Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn.

Peter Sassi was promoted to senior vice president of stores for the Williams-Sonoma brand. Sassi has been with the company for the past 10 years as senior vice president of inventory management.

Jeff Howie, formerly senior vice president of inventory management for the Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen brands, was tapped to fill Sassi’s place.

Meanwhile, John Trifoso will expand his role as senior vice president of Pottery Barn’s inventory management to include the Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen brands.

Williams-Sonoma reported net revenue of $888 million in the first quarter of this year, up 8.6% year over year. It operates 587 stores.