Former Best Buy senior executive Phil Schoonover has joined Circuit City in the crucial job of chief merchandising officer.
In his new position, which also carries an executive VP title, Schoonover is responsible for the company’s merchandising buying, supply chain, business development and strategy groups. He left Best Buy last month as executive VP/new business development after nine years with the chain.
His appointment fills a critical breach in Circuit City’s senior management ranks left by the departure in April of former chief merchant Kim Maguire, who joined QVC in June.
“Phil is a proven consumer electronics retailing leader with a strong background in developing new ideas and bringing them to the marketplace,” said Circuit City’s CEO Alan McCollough. “I am confident that Phil will make a significant difference and play a key role in the progress towards building a new Circuit City.”
Schoonover joined Best Buy in 1995 as senior VP/merchandising and later served as senior VP/digital technology solutions. Prior to that, he was an executive president at Tops Appliance City, a once dominant New York metro area white- and brown-goods chain, and held senior sales and marketing positions with Sony.
