Kmart Holding Corporation announced the appointment of Aylwin Lewis as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Lewis will also join the Kmart Board of Directors. Mr. Lewis joins Kmart from YUM! Brands, Inc., where he was President, Chief Multi-Branding and Operating Officer.
Aylwin Lewis is a 13-year veteran of YUM! Brands, and has been in the restaurant industry for 26 years, beginning his career as a Restaurant General Manager and rising through the ranks to his most recent position at YUM!, the world's largest restaurant company with over $8 billion in annual revenue. Mr. Lewis has been responsible for executing YUM!'s global operating platform, multi-branding expansion, and Restaurant Information Systems. He was also responsible for the operation of 2600 multi-branded restaurants and the company's 1,250 Long John Silver's and 900 A&W All-American Food restaurants.
Edward S. Lampert, Chairman of Kmart, said, “We are excited to have Aylwin Lewis join us as our President and CEO. He brings a strong record of successful operating performance. Under his leadership, we expect that Kmart will build further on its financial strength to become a truly great company.”
Mr. Lampert added, “Aylwin Lewis brings to Kmart a wealth of retail operating experience, a track record of personal and corporate success, tremendous people skills and a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence. He is the ideal leader and agent of change for Kmart at this time, and we are pleased that he has embraced this challenge with his characteristic passion. Along with the other members of the Board, I welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with Aylwin to lead Kmart in the next exciting phase of our company's development. ”
Mr. Lewis said, “I am very enthusiastic about working with Eddie Lampert and the Board of Directors to drive the operating excellence and cultural change that are the hallmarks of great companies. Kmart has made considerable strides under the leadership of Julian Day and the Board. I am joining an organization with a strong executive team, financial stability, and increasing profitability. I look forward to working with the company's management team and all of Kmart's associates to build on that success.”
Julian Day, who served as Kmart's President and CEO since January 2003, will remain on the Board of Directors and assist Aylwin Lewis in the transition. Mr. Day said, “I am proud to have led the outstanding team which has accomplished so much at Kmart. As I relinquish my executive responsibilities at the company, I am confident that we have established the strong foundation that will allow Aylwin to focus on the goal of achieving operational excellence in all aspects of our business. Our company is very fortunate to have attracted such an outstanding executive, and I look forward to his success.”
Mr. Lampert added, “Julian Day has successfully led Kmart to its current position of financial strength and profitability, assembled a strong management team, instilled a culture of financial discipline, and, most importantly, presided over a very significant increase in shareholder value. The Board of Directors appreciates Julian Day's contribution to our company's development, and we look forward to continuing to work with him on the Board at Kmart.”
