Staples Taps New CMO with Focus on North American Delivery Business 

Staples faces a change in leadership, and more potential online competitors. Magid’s Matt Sargent, senior vice president of Retail, gives insight on Staples current and future challenges in the market. 

Dive Brief:

• Michelle Bottomley has been appointed chief marketing officer at Staples, the office supplies retailer announced Thursday. She will be responsible for marketing across Staples, including helping the company’s pivot to focusing on its North American Delivery business, according to a company press release. She will report to CEO and President Shira Goodman.
• Bottomley replaces former CMO Frank Bifulco, who had previously announced his intention to retire in 2017 after three years, the company said. Bottomley most recently served as global chief marketing and sales officer at the human resources consulting firm Mercer. Before that, she was chief marketing officer for credit card company Barclaycard and spent 10 years at advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather, including as chief operating officer of its flagship New York office.
• Meanwhile, Staples this week rebuffed a bid from private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, while private equity firm Sycamore Partners is still in talks regarding an offer, Bloomberg reports. Staples has previously declined to comment to Retail Dive on reports of takeover interest.

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