Walden In, Chow Out at Sears
Sears Holdings Corp. named John Walden its first-ever chief customer officer just days after the abrupt departure of Sears Roebuck & Co.’s chief marketing officer Joan Chow.
Walden will oversee marketing, services, and Sears’ direct-commerce businesses. He joins Sears Holdings on Jan. 29, and will report to CEO Edward Lampert, according to Sears Holdings.
He does not replace Chow, who abruptly left the CMO post at Sears Holding’s flagship chain last week, according to news reports. Chow had been CMO for 18 months (PROMO Xtra, July 13, 2005).
Her duties have been assumed by Maureen McGuire, chief marketing officer for Sears and its sister division, Kmart Corp., while Sears Holdings seeks a permanent replacement for Chow, per news reports.
Walden spent the last eight years at Best Buy, most recently as executive vice president of its Customer Business Group. Earlier posts at Best Buy include executive vice president of human capital and leadership, and president of the Internet and direct-marketing division. Walden had been chief operating officer of online grocery service Peapod before joining Best Buy.
