Fingerhut Cos. Inc., the Minnetonka. MN-based cataloger, has named president William J. Lansing as its CEO, assuming the title from Theodore Deikel, who will remain as chairman through January 2000. Lansing will also oversee Federated Direct, the new operating umbrella comprised of Fingerhut, Macy’s By Mail and Macys.Com.
Lansing, who has been with the company since May 1998, has been instrumental in developing Fingerhut’s online business and has overseen the acquisition of a number of catalog companies and online retailers. Deikel will retire from Fingerhut in January after 24 years with the company.
He began his career as a securities lawyer before joining McKinsey & Co., where he was named a partner and was a leader of the consulting firm’s Internet practice. He later joined online marketing firm Prodigy as COO before leading the management buyout that took the company private. He later moved to General Electric, where he was the top business development officer.
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