News

Janesville, Wis. — Blain’s Farm & Fleet® has promoted Mark Hasting to chief executive officer and president. Kim Treece will be promoted to chief stores officer. Jane Blain Gilbertson will take on a new role as executive chair of the board and will remain the sole owner of Blain’s Farm & Fleet and Blain Supply, Inc. The transition will take place over the next several months and will be complete in September. “This succession plan was put into place 4 years ago when we hired Mark to join our company …

Hudson, Ohio — JOANN, the nation’s category leader in fabric and sewing and one of the fastest growing competitors in the arts and crafts industry, has appointed Michael Prendergast, a managing director in Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group, as acting chief executive officer of JOANN. Prendergast is an experienced executive who has helped companies transform successfully and has served as an interim leader for other retailers. Chris DiTullio and Scott Sekella, who served as co-leads of the interim office of the CEO since May 2023 and led JOANN …

Hoffman Estates, Ill. — Claire’s Holdings LLC has appointed Chris Cramer as interim chief executive officer, effective immediately. Cramer will also continue to serve in his roles as chief financial officer and chief operating officer. Cramer succeeds Ryan Vero, who will step down as CEO and from the company’s board of managers, effective immediately. “Since joining Claire’s last year, Chris has demonstrated extensive operational and financial leadership and helped drive our strategic roadmap,” says Samantha Algaze, chairman of the Claire’s board. “His impressive track record and more than 25 years of …