Enfield, Conn. – Bernie’s principal Milton Rosenberg has assumed the new title of chairman and CEO of the New England majap, CE and bedding chain, and has brought in Bed Bath & Beyond veteran Mike Honeyman to succeed him as president.
Honeyman, who also becomes COO, joins Bernie’s from The Christmas Tree Shops, the 23-store specialty chain held by Bed Bath & Beyond. Honeyman served as COO of the New England business for three years, and helped lead its acquisition following a six-year run as VP of operations and corporate administration of the No. 1 home textiles chain. During that time, Honeyman helped manage Bed Bath’s expansion as it grew from 108 to over 800 stores.
Before that he served as VP of operations of regional apparel chain Bob’s Stores, where he helped steer its growth from four to over 40 locations.
Honeyman’s operational skills and background in retail expansion compliment Bernie’s own growth plans, which call for a doubling of its trading area during the next decade. His appointment also addresses succession issues for the family- and employee-owned chain, which is a member of the NATM Buying Corp.
In announcing his appointment, the company cited Honeyman’s track record of “growth, improvement, fanatical focus on customer service, people development and operational excellence.” His responsibilities will include setting strategic direction; management and associate team development; enhancing the customer shopping experience; and growth.
“I look forward to working with Milton and the entire Bernie’s team, as we aggressively evaluate every facet of our business, strengthen our foundation [and] infrastructure, grow, improve, open new stores and most importantly continue our relentless efforts to satisfy our customers,” he said in a statement.
