— Home Accents Today

Alderson to stay on as CEO
Kirkland’s has named Catherine David president and chief operating officer. Robert Alderson will continue as chief executive officer of the company.

A 20-year retail veteran, David was most recently senior vice president and general manager of Sears Essentials, Sears Grand and The Great Indoors for Sears Holding Corporation. She spent 13 years with Target in a variety of buying, merchandise planning, store operations and Web site management roles.

All areas and all members of senior management of the company will report to her. David will also lead the hiring of a new general merchandising manager for the company.
“We are very excited about Cathy coming on board to lead the Kirkland’s team. She is a proven merchant with a demonstrated ability to set a merchandising vision and attract and develop top merchandising talent,” Alderson said. “Her background includes extensive experience in home furnishings as well as significant levels of responsibility and leadership. She is well known and admired throughout our industry for her creativity and communications skills as well as the results she has produced. We look forward to working closely with Cathy to lead Kirkland’s to growth and profitability.”

Alderson had been serving as interim president and CEO pending a search for a new CEO. The
board of directors has determined not to pursue the search and will leave Alderson in place as CEO. The board has elected Wilson Orr to serve as chairman. He has served as an independent director since 1996 and is a general partner of SSM Partners, a private equity investment firm, and a principal of SSM Corporation, a shareholder of Kirkland’s.

The company also announced that Reynolds Faulkner has resigned as executive vice president and chief financial officer and as a member of the board, effective the end of April.

The board has elected Mike Madden to serve as vice president and CFO. Madden has served as VP of finance May 2012.