Sears Taps Richard Gerstein as New Chief Marketing Officer

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq: SHLD) announced that Richard Gerstein is coming aboard as chief marketing officer on August 6th for its Sears, Roebuck and Co. subsidiary, according to a press release at searsholdings.com

Richard Gerstein was the former global chief marketing officer for Alberto Culver Beauty, maker of St. Ives, Nexxus and TreSemmé hair care products and other home products such as Mrs. Dash® and Sugar Twin®. He was also senior vice president of the U.S. business. Information found on alberto.com, states that Alberto Culver (NYSE: ACV) is headquartered in Melrose Park, IL. Earlier this year, Alberto Culver announced strong earnings results from continuing operations for its second quarter and first half of fiscal 2007 and split its consumer products business and its Sally/BSG unit into two separate public companies. Gerstein was an asset to Alberto Culver Beauty, reorganizing and energizing the marketing, attracting top new talent and creating new marketing venues that accelerated brand growth and introduced new brands into mass retail markets.

Gerstein also spent some of his 20-years in the field at Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) as CEO of the now defunct Reflect.com customized beauty business. According to a report on criticalmass.com, Reflect.com used online questionnaires to allow customers to personalize a broad range of beauty products. Of Reflect.com in 2001, Gerstein said that it was a challenge to launch a new brand, but said that's difficult off-line as well as online. "We needed to build credibility and trust quickly."

Gerstein, who will oversee Sears' brand marketing strategies and programs, will report to Maureen McGuire, Sears Holdings' chief marketing officer.
"With Richard's hiring, we add another seasoned executive to our bench of talent, and someone who has the creativity, talent and experience to help Sears reconnect with its loyal customers and attract former customers back to Sears. We started that work with the announcement in May of Sears' new integrated marketing campaign," said McGuire. "Richard will be charged with helping consumers better understand the unique products and services Sears offers that can inspire them to imagine and fulfill new possibilities for every chapter in their lives and to help improve the customer experience."

Sears Holdings Corporation is the result of a merger in 2005 between Sears and Kmart. It is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer, with approximately fifty billion in annual revenues, and with approximately 3,800 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. The company's corporate headquarters is located in Hoffman Estates, Ill. Well known labels owned by the company include Lands' End and Covington. The Company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at http://www.searsholdings.com.