Hudson, Ohio — JOANN Stores, the nation’s leading fabric and craft specialty retailer, has named Wade Miquelon as president, CEO and a member of the board of directors. Miquelon was appointed interim president and CEO in October 2018, in addition to continuing in his role as executive vice president and CFO, and led JOANN through a successful holiday season.
“In his nearly 3 years with JOANN, we have seen Wade drive incredible positive change and business results,” says John Yoon, principal, Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. “We determined that Wade was the best fit to lead JOANN, as he embraced the CEO role and earned the trust of the organization. Wade’s strategic vision, differentiated thinking, and open communication style are benefitting the culture and results at JOANN and make him an excellent leader for the company.”
Miquelon joined JOANN in March 2016 and helped drive a strategic growth plan including revitalized branding, refreshed merchandising, expanded digital capabilities and customer-focused storefront innovation.
Prior to JOANN, Miquelon was executive vice president, CFO and president of international at The Walgreen Company, where he oversaw strategy, mergers and acquisitions, business development, market planning and risk management.
Matt Susz will take over Miquelon’s duties leading the financial organization as CFO. Susz has been an integral part of driving results at JOANN, most recently as COO. Since joining JOANN in 1996, Susz has served in various roles of progressing responsibility across Finance, Information Technology and Operations. Prior to JOANN, Susz was with Arthur Andersen LLP.
From a single storefront in Cleveland, Ohio, 75 years ago, the nation’s leading fabric and craft retailer has grown to include more than 865 stores across 49 states and an industry-leading e-commerce business. JOANN has been privately owned since its acquisition by affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. in 2011. For more information, visit www.joann.com.
Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. (LGP) is a leading private equity investment firm founded in 1989 and based in Los Angeles. Since inception, LGP has invested in over 90 companies in the form of traditional buyouts, going-private transactions, recapitalizations, growth equity, and selective public equity and debt positions. For more information, visit www.leonardgreen.com.
SOURCE: JOANN Stores