Kmart Recruits Tesco Executive

Sears Holdings (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) announced yesterday the hiring of Tesco (London) veteran Alasdair James as president and chief member officer for its Kmart business. His responsibilities will include aligning merchandising, marketing, pricing and selling with the “needs and wants” of the chain's customers, among others.

At Tesco, James most recently served as commercial director for the company’s global business unit. Previously, James managed Tesco’s China operations as vp and commercial director. “Alasdair will work closely with me and our business unit leaders to understand the preferences of Shop Your Way members who shop at Kmart,” said Edward S. Lampert, Sears Holdings chairman and ceo in a company-issued statement. “He will be responsible for the Kmart strategy, its performance and its continued transformation as an integrated retail format.”