Sears names Chris Shimojima head of Customer Direct

As part of the merger between Kmart Holding Corp. and Sears, Roebuck and Co., the new Sears Holdings Corp. has named marketing veteran Chris Shimojima vice president and general manager of its Customer Director e-commerce and catalog operations, reporting to Sears CEO Alan J. Lacy. Shimojima replaces his former boss, Bill Bass, who had served as both senior vice president of e-commerce at Lands’ End and head of Sears Customer Direct.

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Shimojima has served Sears since 2002 as vice president of marketing and merchandising for Customer Direct. Prior to Sears, Shimojima served in senior marketing positions for Prudential E-Business Group, the former Kozmo.com delivery service, AT&T, PepsiCo and Nestle Foods. Sears has yet to name a second person to fill the position Bass left as head of e-commerce at Lands` End, a spokeswoman says.

Bass tells InternetRetailer.com he is looking forward to entering a new venture outside of the retail business, but declines to be more specific.

Among other personnel changes at Sears Holdings, Kmart veteran Karen Austin will take over as CIO, replacing Garry Kelly, who was CIO of Sears, Roebuck since 2002.