MOORESVILLE, N.C. —
Lowe’s has eliminated
a number of merchandising and regional
divisions to improve efficiencies, increase speed
to market for new products and services, and
enhance the customer shopping experience, the
No. 2 appliance chain said.
The consolidation, which includes the departures
of four senior VPs, follows a lackluster
second quarter in which its performance trailed
home-improvement rival The Home Depot.
Under the new structure the company’s four
merchandising divisions have been collapsed
into two: a kitchen, bath and home décor products
unit, which includes major appliances; and
a building and outdoor products division. The
former is led by one-time appliance merchandising
VP Clint Davis, and the latter is headed by
Troy Dally. Both retain their senior VP/general
merchandise manager titles and report to merchandising
executive VP Robert Gfeller, Jr.
As a result of the changes, Patricia Price, previously
senior VP/general merchandise manager
of home décor, has left the company, while her
counterpart in outdoor living, Eric Sowder, will
retire on Sept. 9.
In addition, Lowe’s has cut its store operations
divisions down to three core geographic areas
— North, South and West — and has reduced
its regional operations from 21 to 14 offices “to
ensure greater consistency and efficiency,” the
company said.
Three operations senior VPs — Bill Edwards,
South division; Jim Frasso, North division; and
Brent Kirby, West division — now report to store
operations executive VP Rick Damron, while former
operations senior VPs Theresa Anderson
and Robert Wagner have left the company.
In a joint statement, Damron and Gfeller said,
“This new organizational structure reflects the
company’s future direction to better serve customers
whenever and however they wish to
shop with us. These leaders are well positioned
to take on new and challenging roles to help
lead our company forward.”
