Lowe’s announces new chief merchandising officer
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. announced Jan. 24 that a former Husqvarna and General Electric executive will join the company as its chief merchandising officer. Michael A. Jones will report to Chief Customer Officer Gregory M. Bridgeford.
As chief merchandising officer, Jones will be responsible for the merchandising offering for Lowe’s stores and Lowes.com, as well as all global sourcing activities. He will work closely with the leaders of customer experience design, marketing, operations and logistics to develop and deliver differentiating, seamless customer experiences.
Jones brings to Lowe’s more than a decade of executive leadership in sales, service, product management and international business. He served most recently as executive vice president and president of Husqvarna North and Latin America.
Prior to joining Husqvarna, Jones spent 15 years with GE. He started in appliance contract sales and also held positions as chief commercial officer – Europe for GE Consumer and Industrial and general manager of cooking products.
“Mike has extensive experience with consumer products in categories relevant to the home improvement business, with both Husqvarna and GE including appliances, outdoor power equipment and lighting categories,” said Bridgeford. “His experience in leading businesses, identifying and pursuing marketing opportunities, and discipline around value creation throughout the chain, from supplier to consumer, make him an outstanding fit for this position.”
Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from California Coast University in Santa Ana, Calif.
With fiscal year 2011 sales of $50.2 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE 100 company that serves approximately 15 million customers a week at more than 1,745 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world.
