Belk appoints Stein Mart's former executive as its new Chief Merchandising Officer
Belk Appoints MaryAnne Morin as President and Chief Merchandising Officer
Belk, a leading retailer, announced the addition of MaryAnne Morin to its executive team as President and Chief Merchandising Officer, effective as of Wednesday. Morin will oversee the company's merchandising, planning, and private brand teams, according to a press release.
Prior to joining Belk, Morin held the position of President at Stein Mart and Republic Clothing Group. She also has extensive experience with Hudson Bay Company, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, and Echo Design Group.
Belk is currently undergoing a series of leadership changes. Last year, the company promoted Don Hendricks from COO to President, while Nir Patel became the CEO following the departure of Lisa Harper. However, in September, Hendricks ascended to the role of CEO. Patel then departed to take up the position of COO at GameStop, leading to a court battle over alleged poaching.
Morin's appointment comes as Belk struggles with a decline in foot traffic compared to the previous year. According to a Placer.ai analysis, between June and September, Belk saw a decrease in physical store foot traffic. The steepest drop was observed in June (-11.7%), but the gap began to narrow in subsequent months, closing to -3.4% in September.
Belk's current COO, Don Hendricks, expressed his excitement about Morin joining the team, stating, "We are always striving to provide our customers with the best shopping experiences, offering quality products they want at prices they can afford. MaryAnne’s wealth of knowledge will help us make that experience even better, whether customers are shopping in our stores, online, or via our mobile app."
In the midst of various leadership changes, Belk's AI-driven industry strategies in finance and retail business are expected to receive a boost with the appointment of MaryAnne Morin. With her extensive experience in merchandising at Hudson Bay Company, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Echo Design Group, and her recent roles at Stein Mart and Republic Clothing Group, Morin's expertise is expected to strengthen Belk's business operations.
