Lowe's New Chief Merchandising Officer is Former Husqvarna and GE Appliances Exec

Home improvement retailer Lowe's Companies said Michael A. Jones, whose career includes positions with Husqvarna and GE Appliances, will join the company as chief merchandising officer.

[SMA]

They call him "Chainsaw Mike".....

[interesting]

pic of Lowe's future CEO

http://r1.cygnuspub.com/files/cygnus/image/GI...

[seriously]

he's black?

[seriously]

Mr. Jones "has much broader experience" in sales and marketing, and also offered international experience, this person explained. That is the kind of pedigree Lowe's directors sought in a new merchandising chief, and they are "hopeful" he might someday be the company's next CEO, this person added.

http://www.nasdaq.com/article/lowes-names-jon...

[seriously]

on video....

http://youtu.be/ZE6c1K1PqAo

[seriously]

survey says....

not impressed with resume or presentation skills.

[MDLow]

Resume is fine. Next CEO right there.

[DMxMD]

Why the hell is our Chief Merchandising Officer, that is supposed to replace our CEO supposedly, reporting to a ridiculous, made up position of "chief customer officer?"

[MDLow]

Because Bridgeford is the one calling the shots now. Niblock is CEO in name only.

[wrong answer]

Unless you come from a background of selling to retail customers (in store or online) you have no knowledge or skill set to be the CEO of a company like Lowe's. It's a bricks and mortar store base with some online sales and they need somebody that can fix what is broken.

It's funny that one of the board members is apparently feeding this "off record" info to Wall Street, I bet that makes Niblock feel real secure in his job. Maybe it's attempt to make him paranoid enough to quit?

[possible right answer]

MDLow wrote:

Because Bridgeford is the one calling the shots now. Niblock is CEO in name only.

That could be true. Bridgeford ties with the "old guard" go all the way back to the early eighties when he was hired as Robert Strickland's assistant. He may be the founders "eyes and ears" and the old timers have an interest in Lowe's philanthropic activities in their communities and alma maters. Plus I'm sure they don't want someone completely destroying the company they built. So I would guess that Bridgeford is their inside mole.

It does appear that Bridgeford is being kept around to find Niblock's replacement, mentor them, decide if he's a keeper or not.

Lowe's has been plauged with costly racial discrimination lawsuits from it's inception. Having a black CEO would make it almost impossible to say the company has an overall racist slant.

[Pedro Rodriquez]

possible right answer wrote:

<quoted text>
That could be true. Bridgeford ties with the "old guard" go all the way back to the early eighties when he was hired as Robert Strickland's assistant. He may be the founders "eyes and ears" and the old timers have an interest in Lowe's philanthropic activities in their communities and alma maters. Plus I'm sure they don't want someone completely destroying the company they built. So I would guess that Bridgeford is their inside mole.
It does appear that Bridgeford is being kept around to find Niblock's replacement, mentor them, decide if he's a keeper or not.
Lowe's has been plauged with costly racial discrimination lawsuits from it's inception. Having a black CEO would make it almost impossible to say the company has an overall racist slant.

Color or gender doesn't matter-do they have the skills to do the job? We have had plenty of white males run companies into the ground while padding their own pockets.

[Spanish Mike Alvarez]

Pedro Rodriquez wrote:

<quoted text>
Color or gender doesn't matter-do they have the skills to do the job? We have had plenty of white males run companies into the ground while padding their own pockets.

You tell em' Paco!

[SPAMIKALV]

Lowe's better watch out, you know what they say:

"Once you go black you never go back"

[Drama]

I talked to a Husqvarna rep today about "Chainsaw Mike". He pretty much said he has no people skills, zero leadership skills, and everyone at Husqvarna is glad he is finally gone. Sounds like the perfect candidate to become the next CEO.

[Spanish Mike]

Drama wrote:

I talked to a Husqvarna rep today about "Chainsaw Mike". He pretty much said he has no people skills, zero leadership skills, and everyone at Husqvarna is glad he is finally gone. Sounds like the perfect candidate to become the next CEO.

Based on a few google searches...

He is big on consolidating business operations. So I would guess there will be more blood letting at the Corporate level.

[Terry The Troll]

Pedro Rodriquez wrote:

<quoted text>
Color or gender doesn't matter-do they have the skills to do the job? We have had plenty of white males run companies into the ground while padding their own pockets.

I had a friend that had what the Docs called "undulating" fevers, up and down, up and down, facial flushing and no pain in the side or vomiting and finally figured out he was having....of all things, a reaction to a blood pressure medication and "mini-strokes. criminy-crap !!
Well, we all have to admit that medicine is not a cut and dried exact science.

[Terry The Troll]

MDLow wrote:

Resume is fine. Next CEO right there.

If a man don’t know Minnie Mouse, he got to be some kind of Al Queda