COPPELL, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kip Tindell, Chairman and CEO of The Container Store Group, Inc. (NYSE:TCS), today announced that Melissa Reiff, current President and COO, will become the retailer’s Chief Executive Officer and Sharon Tindell, will add President to her current Chief Merchandising Officer role. Jodi Taylor, Chief Financial Officer, will add Chief Administrative Officer responsibility to current role, Melissa Collins named Chief Marketing Officer, and Eva Gordon, Audrey Robertson and John Thrailkill named Executive Vice Presidents in a variety of capacities. Tindell, who has served at the helm of the company since its founding in 1978, will continue as Chairman. These changes will be effective July 1, 2016.
“Succession planning has always been a huge priority and something that my mentors encouraged me to have a tremendous focus on – especially for such a culture-rich company like The Container Store. Thus, over the years, we’ve placed a great deal of energy on ensuring that the culture of our special company is protected and supported by a leadership team that will continue to operate the business through the lens of our Foundation Principles – our strategic business philosophies – and, with a focus on maintaining our employee-first culture,” said Tindell. “Our Board and I feel that this new structure and enhanced responsibilities will provide continuity coupled with renewed vigor and vision for innovation and excellence in bringing the Company to its full and amazing potential within this ever-changing world of retail, all while nurturing and developing a business where everyone associated with it can thrive.”
Reiff joined The Container Store as Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 1995 assuming the role of Executive Vice President of Stores in 2003. In these roles, she created, built and formalized the company’s sales and marketing function and was responsible for all aspects of store sales, management, communication and training, as well as advertising, online business marketing, public relations and new store launches. She also spearheaded the retailer’s growth plan and the restructuring of the company communication flow. In early 2006, Reiff was named President and in 2013, Chief Operating Officer was added to her title. “I’m honored to take on the responsibility of leading our incredibly special company,” said Reiff. “And I’m absolutely committed to serving the needs of and creating value for all of our stakeholders by ushering The Container Store into the next phase of our exciting future, while simultaneously maintaining all that our brand is known and loved for.”
Sharon Tindell is heralded in the industry as a “quiet disruptor” and a trailblazer who has a profound impact on the storage and organization category of retailing. As the visionary behind The Container Store’s product mix – and focus on staying devoted solely to storage and organization products – she has been lauded as one of the primary reasons for the Company’s success. Tindell will continue to lead the retailer’s merchandising vision, as well as its focus on custom closet solutions, development of exclusive and proprietary products, store format and design, and the visual impact of the customer’s shopping experience. She will also oversee supply chain and logistics, as well as the Company’s elfa International AB subsidiary. “I look forward to further strengthening the relationship between our merchandising and supply chain teams in order to address the quickly changing retail landscape,” said Tindell. “And, working with the incredibly tenured leadership of our Merchandising Vice Presidents and Buyers, we’ll be redoubling our efforts to bring our customers innovative and differentiated product solutions through an exciting and unique shopping experience.”
Jodi Taylor will add Chief Administrative Officer to her current role as Chief Financial Officer. Taylor brought more than 20 years of experience in accounting and finance, investor relations, treasury, merchandise management, real estate, loss prevention, distribution operations, recruiting and human resources when she joined the Company in 2007 as Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Taylor will guide all of The Container Store’s finance and accounting practices, inclusive of its investor relations and SEC reporting functions, as well as direct its real estate operations, loss prevention and risk management efforts, payroll and benefits programs.
Melissa Collins will assume the role of Chief Marketing Officer having most recently served as the Company’s Vice President of Creative and Online. Joining The Container Store in 1997 as an art director, Collins has held numerous positions within the retailer’s in-house creative department playing an integral role in the development of its sophisticated, yet fun-loving brand, as well as in the strategy and execution of the Company’s digital initiatives. In her new role, in addition to directing the Company’s creative vision and having responsibility for all aspects of its digital sales channels, Collins will oversee enterprise-wide marketing functions, including the Company’s POP! customer engagement and loyalty program, new store marketing, media, regional marketing and public relations.
Eva Gordon has been named Executive Vice President of Stores & Employee Development, most recently serving as Vice President of Stores, Training & Development, and Recruiting. Gordon joined The Container Store in 2006 bringing two decades of retail leadership, sales and operations experience to the brand. She is expert at creating an outstanding customer experience through exceptional employee training and motivation. In this role, Gordon will oversee the leadership and operations of all of the Company’s stores, its new store and remodel processes, store facilities, purchasing and the recruiting, training and development of the Company’s 6,000 employees, in addition to its Contained Home in-home organization service.
Audrey Robertson has been named Executive Vice President of Culture & Strategic Assistant to the CEO, most recently serving as Vice President of Cultural Programs and Community Relations. Since joining the Company in 1998 in a public relations capacity, Robertson has played an integral role in building the retailer’s unique brand and position as an employer of choice, including leading its 17-year ranking on FORTUNE magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work For.” In this role, she will oversee the continued yet elevated integration of the Company’s culture into its internal and external stakeholder communications and programs, while also partnering with Reiff and the executive team on short and long-term strategic initiatives.
John Thrailkill has been named Executive Vice President of IT and Business Development, most recently serving as Vice President of Store Systems & Business Development. Since joining the Company in 1991 in full-time sales, Thrailkill has served in a wide variety of capacities ranging from store management, operations and training to marketing and e-commerce, contributing to countless company milestone developments and initiatives over the past 25 years. In this role, Thrailkill will oversee all technology strategy, development, operations and management, as well as the Company’s contact center, which includes its business to business sales and installation teams.
Tindell concluded, “I’ve had the incredible fortune and honor of leading The Container Store alongside Melissa and Sharon for decades and I’m thrilled to ring in this long-planned for, much-deserved succession in management. They’ve always represented the two hemispheres that make up our wonderful company and, in these roles, will partner even more closely with each other and our other newly elevated leadership team to execute the Company’s strategic vision of ‘closet domination’ and a superior and differentiated customer experience. I truly can’t imagine a more capable duo and team to help The Container Store really spread its wings and lead our Company into the future.”
The Container Store is the nation’s leading retailer of storage and organization products and the only retailer solely devoted to the storage and organization category of retailing. The company originated the concept of storage and organization retailing when it opened its first store in 1978. Today, the retailer has 79 store locations nationwide that each average 25,000 square feet. The Container Store has over 11,000 products to help customers save space and, ultimately, save them time. As the pace of modern life accelerates and being organized is not a luxury anymore but a necessity, The Container Store is devoted to making customers more productive, relaxed and happier by selling customized, complete solutions. Since its inception, the retailer has nurtured an employee-first culture and couples its one-of-kind product collection with a high level of customer service delivered by its highly trained organization experts. The company has been named to FORTUNE magazine’s list of 100 Best Companies to Work For® 17 years in a row. Visit www.containerstore.com for more information about store locations, the product collection and services offered. To find out more about The Container Store’s unique culture, Foundation Principles and devotion to Conscious Capitalism®, visit the retailer’s blog at www.whatwestandfor.com.