Heywood wilansky biography samples

TORONTO – Veteran U.S. retailer Heywood Wilansky has been named to Sears Canada’s board of directors, the multi-channel retailer has announced, noting he brings over 45 years of retail experience and 20 years of corporate and philanthropic board experience to the role.

Since 2010, Wilansky has been president and chief executive officer of Strategic Management Resources, a consulting service that helps its clients develop high levels of organisational capability.  From 2004 to 2009, he filled the same role at Retail Ventures Inc., a leading off-price retailer operating various banners across the U.S. including Value City, DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse), and Filene’s Basement. He was also president and CEO of Bon-Ton Stores, Foley’s and Filene’s Department Stores, and held senior executive positions with Lord & Taylor and Hecht Company.

Wilansky is also a director at Swan Products, a manufacturer of lawn and garden watering products.  He has also been a corporate director of DSW Inc., Retail Ventures, Bertucci’s, Steve Madden Ltd., Bon-Ton Stores and First Washington Realty Trust. He is currently a volunteer member of The Genesis Fund.

“The board of directors of Sears Canada is pleased to have someone with Heywood’s extensive retail experience lend his expertise to our company,” Brandon G. Stranzl, executive chairman of Sears Canada said in a statement. “”We continue to re-engineer our business around a customer-obsessed culture with a growth mindset.  We believe we have formulated the right strategy for the business, and continue to build our bench of talent at all levels, from the internal development of our team, to new hires, to additions to our board.

“We are determined to deliver consumers a relevant retail experience, and as we evolve our business forward, having Heywood on the board will be a significant asset to the company,” he continued. “We look forward to his guidance and counsel as we innovate our retail model and continue to build meaningful relationships with ‘Main Street’ Canadians looking for truly high quality products at amazing prices.”

Sears Canada is a multi-channel retailer with a network that includes 159 corporate stores, 125 Hometown stores, over 1,200 catalogue and online merchandise pick-up locations, 84 Sears Travel offices and a nationwide repair and service network. It also publishes Canada’s most broadly distributed general merchandise catalogue and offers shopping online at www.sears.ca.

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