Wayne, N.J. — Best Buy chief merchant Ron Boire is leaving the company next month to head Toys “R” Us as president.
In his new role, effective July 17, he will oversee all merchandising, marketing and operational responsibilities for the 587-store specialty chain. He will report to chairman/CEO Gerald Storch, the former vice chairman of Target who joined Toys “R” Us in February.
Boire, a 17-year veteran of Sony where his posts included president of Sony Electronics Consumer Sales, joined Best Buy in 2003 as executive VP/general merchandise manager. According to Best Buy spokeswoman Susan Busch, all of Boire’s direct reports will now report to president/COO Brian Dunn, who will choose a successor in the coming weeks.
“Ron built a great merchandising team at Best Buy, and we’re a better place because he was here,” Busch told TWICE. “We’re sad to lose him as a colleague and a friend, but we’re also pretty darn proud.”
In a statement Boire said, “Toys “R” Us is one of the most recognized retail brands in the world, and I am excited about the tremendous opportunity that this great brand represents. I look forward to working with the Toys “R” Us team in developing differentiated merchandise assortments and a world-class shopping experience for customers.”
