HBC appointed Paige Thomas as president of Saks Off 5TH, effective immediately. Thomas most recently served as executive vice president, general merchandise manager, full-price, men’s and kids at Nordstrom Inc.
“Paige has a proven track record of achieving aggressive growth within Off-price retail through superior cross-channel customer experiences,” said Helena Foulkes, CEO, HBC. “With her deep merchandising background and instinct to quickly capitalize on digital opportunities, I believe Paige is the right leader to further evolve Saks Off 5TH and unleash its potential as a true Off-price retailer.”
Thomas most recently served as executive vice president, general merchandise manager, full-price, men’s and kids at Nordstrom, Inc. Prior to that, she held the position of executive vice president, general merchandise manager, off-price at the company for over five years. In this role, Ms. Thomas drove the growth of Nordstrom Rack, successfully launching its e-commerce site and leading its subsequent integration with HauteLook onto a dual-platform with shared inventory, as well as centralizing merchandising teams across three locations. Additionally, she oversaw the openings of over 100 stores.
Prior to Nordstrom, Thomas held merchandising leadership positions at Kohl’s and Fred Meyer.
“Saks Off 5TH is well-positioned in the Off-price sector with a strong digital platform, strategic store footprint and an exciting assortment of luxury finds,” said Thomas. “There is significant runway ahead for this business and I look forward to building on the team’s strategy to provide customers with a best-in-class experience, both in-store and online, and of-the-moment merchandise they expect from a leading Off-price retailer.”
Foulkes continued, “We have seen positive results from strategic shifts in Saks Off 5TH’s buying, marketing and service, including three consecutive quarters of positive comparable sales, thanks in large part to our successful digital channel. I am confident in the opportunity for Saks Off 5TH and believe now is the optimal time to bring in a dedicated leader. With strong presidents at the helm of HBC’s three distinct retail businesses, each is empowered to execute on their strategies and deliver unique experiences for their customers.”
With this appointment, Marc Metrick will fully focus on his role as president of Saks Fifth Avenue, as planned since he assumed leadership of Saks Off 5TH in January 2018.
Foulkes said, “I thank Marc for his leadership over the past two years and for establishing a solid foundation for Saks Off 5TH’s next chapter. From the outset, Marc was committed to turning the business around and setting it up for a dedicated leader, which I’m pleased he accomplished faster than expected. With this transition, he will double down on his tremendous leadership of Saks Fifth Avenue, further capitalizing on its position in luxury and solidifying the business as a category leader.”
Photo courtesy Saks Off 5TH corporate
