JOANN Adds to Executive Leadership Team to Advance Operations, Inventory Management

Rhea-AI Summary

JOANN, a leading retailer in the fabrics and sewing industry, has strengthened its executive team with key promotions and new hires. Joe Thibault has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Store Operations, bringing over 19 years of experience at JOANN and overseeing operations for more than 850 stores. Lisa Wittman-Smith joins as Senior Vice President of Inventory Management & Business Insights, bringing extensive experience from her previous roles at Visionworks and Luxottica. The leadership changes aim to enhance customer experience and optimize operational efficiency.

Positive

• Promotion of Joe Thibault enhances leadership continuity and operational expertise.
• Lisa Wittman-Smith's retail experience may lead to improved inventory management and insights.

Negative

• None.

Retailer promotes one, hires another retail leader to round out leadership team

HUDSON, Ohio, Dec. 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JOANN, the nation’s category leader in fabrics and sewing and one of the fastest-growing players in the craft space, has added two industry leaders to its executive team.

Joe Thibault, Senior Vice President, Store Operations
An experienced retail leader, Joe Thibault was promoted to Senior Vice President, Store Operations in November 2021 after more than 19 years with the company. He has served in various leadership roles both in the field and at corporate headquarters, giving him a deep understanding of the business, industry and customers. In his current role, Joe oversees all field operations, including more than 850 stores and 22,000 field Team Members nationwide. This includes responsibility for JOANN’s omni-channel fulfillment options including Buy Online Pickup In Store, Ship from Store and Curbside Pickup. He also leads a corporate team that is focused on store support, including field communications, customer feedback, and space planning.

Lisa Wittman-Smith, Senior Vice President, Inventory Management & Business Insights
Lisa Wittman-Smith joined JOANN in November 2021 as Senior Vice President, Inventory Management & Business Insights. A proven leader with a diverse retail background, Lisa held roles in Merchandising, Planning, Marketing and Business Insights. Prior to joining JOANN, Lisa held the position of Vice President, Business Insights at Visionworks of America, a leading optical retailer with more than 700 stores across the United States. In this role, she led data engineering, data science, revenue planning and merchandise analytics. Previously, Lisa spent more than 20 years at Luxottica, holding roles of increasing responsibility in merchandising, planning and marketing, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President of Merchandise Planning & Allocation.

“We are very excited to announce the promotion of Joe, and to welcome Lisa to our executive leadership team,” said Wade Miquelon, President & CEO of JOANN. “Both bring incredible experience and innovative thought to JOANN and they will help us continue to optimize the way we operate while finding new ways to create terrific customer experiences, wherever and however consumers shop with us. I look forward to working closely with both of these proven leaders and am confident as ever in the strength of our executive team.”

Both Joe and Lisa will report to Chris DiTullio, Chief Customer Officer, and will be based at JOANN’s Hudson, Ohio headquarters.

ABOUT JOANN
For more than 75 years, JOANN has inspired creativity in the hearts, hands, and minds of its customers. From a single storefront in Cleveland, Ohio, the nation’s category leader in sewing and fabrics and one of the fastest-growing competitors in the arts and crafts industry has grown to include 852 stores across 49 states and robust e-commerce business. With the goal of helping every customer find their creative Happy Place, JOANN serves as a convenient single source for all of the supplies, guidance, and inspiration needed to achieve any project or passion.

Investor Relations Contacts:
Ajay Jain
ajay.jain@joann.com 
330-463-8585

Corporate Communications:
Amanda Hayes
amanda.hayes@joann.com 
216-296-5887

FAQ

Who is Joe Thibault at JOANN?

Joe Thibault is the newly promoted Senior Vice President of Store Operations, overseeing all field operations for JOANN.

What is Lisa Wittman-Smith's role at JOANN?

Lisa Wittman-Smith has joined JOANN as Senior Vice President of Inventory Management & Business Insights.

What changes are being made to JOANN's leadership team?

JOANN has promoted Joe Thibault and hired Lisa Wittman-Smith to strengthen its leadership team.

What impact might the leadership changes have on JOANN?

The leadership changes are expected to enhance operational efficiency and improve customer experiences.