L.L. Bean has added two new executives geared toward helping the company achieve its retail expansion goals. Ed Howell, a former L.L.Bean employee, returned to the company as Chief Retail Officer and member of the Office of the President, and Ken Kacere, who was recently promoted to Senior Vice President and General Manager of Retail.
Howell spent 9 years at L.L.Bean from 1987 until 1996. At the time of his departure he was Vice President and General Manager of Men's Apparel, Footwear and L.L.Bean Kids, a business Howell is credited with starting.
Howell, who rejoined L.L.Bean on October 12th, had been President of the Sorel Division of Columbia Sportswear. Prior to Columbia he was President & CEO of Eastern Mountain Sports where he had oversight of 80 retail stores.
Kacere joined L.L.Bean just three years ago as Vice President of Factory Stores after 16 years with G.H. Bass & Co., where he held the position of Executive Vice President and General Manager of Retail and Brand Marketing, and President of bassnet. He quickly established himself as a competent leader at L.L.Bean, taking the company's 15 Factory Stores to a new level of success. Kacere will assume his new responsibilities immediately and will continue to lead Factory Stores until a successor is named.
