Etoys at the Gate

IRCE 2008 Conference Multi-Media CD-ROM

Web merchant eToys went all the way to PC maker Gateway to hire away its logistics chief, Theodore F. Augustine. Augustine, 53, will take a similar post at eToys, where he'll be senior vice president and chief logistics officer. At eToys, Augustine will lead the the retailer's operations strategy, distribution centers, inbound and outbound logistics, and inventory management, as well as their integration with the company's computer systems.

     In February, eToys announced it would accelerate plans to run its own distribution facilities as its primary means of order fulfillment. As part of that initiative, eToys is currently outfitting and expanding an East Coast distribution center in Danville, Va., and expanding its existing West Coast operations in Southern California. Augustine, who will join eToys in mid-April, will lead those efforts and manage the push for the peak holiday shopping season later this year.