Boca Raton, Fla. — Office Depot, Inc. has appointed Joseph T. Lower as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective January 8, 2018. He succeeds Stephen E. Hare, who is retiring after 4 years in the role. Hare will assist in the transition of duties.
As CFO, Lower will report directly to CEO Gerry Smith and be a member of the executive committee. He will be responsible for overseeing all financial aspects of the company, including financial planning and analysis, accounting and financial reporting, as well as managing the tax, internal audit, treasury and investor relations functions.
“We are excited to have Joe join the company as we continue to transform for the future,” says Smith. “His operational skills, business acumen and financial markets experience will help us deliver value for our shareholders. He will also play a key role in accelerating our efforts to disrupt the market and challenge the traditional ways of thinking about our core business.”
Lower most recently served as vice president and chief financial officer at B/E Aerospace, Inc., where he oversaw all the financial reporting for the company. Prior to joining B/E Aerospace, Inc. in 2014, Lower was vice president of business development and strategy for The Boeing Company, where he spent 12 years.
Office Depot, Inc. is a leading provider of office supplies, business products and services delivered through an omnichannel platform. The company has approximately 1,400 retail stores and operates under several banner brands including Office Depot®, OfficeMax®, BizBox, CompuCom®, Complete Office and Grand&Toy®.
SOURCE: Office Depot, Inc.