The Bay, the Canadian luxury department store chain, reported that Iain Nairn, president and CEO, would retire in January 2023. Sophia Hwang-Judiesch has been appointed president of The Bay and Hudson’s Bay, comprising both the store and digital businesses.
Hwang-Judiesch was appointed president of Hudson’s Bay in September 2022, leading the Hudson’s Bay store organization, including the execution of the company’s in-store digital selling transformation, customer experience and store optimization strategy.
Nairn’s retirement culminates in a 46-year career in retailing. Since joining The Bay, he oversaw a digital transformation of the business, including the launch of Marketplace, which brought “more than 900 new sellers” to thebay.com. He also launched Hudson’s Bay Foundation Charter for Change, and advanced The Bay’s Truth & Reconciliation work.
Richard Baker, governor and executive chairman, HBC, said “We thank Iain for his tremendous contributions to The Bay as we continue to deliver exciting and relevant experiences for the Canadian customer. As Sophia takes the reins, I’m confident her strategic and operational leadership will help drive performance, grow market share and elevate the customer journey even further.”
The Bay operates thebay.com featuring Marketplace, the premium life and style platforms in Canada, with a connection to a network of 84 Hudson’s Bay stores.
