San Francisco — Janet Hayes, president of the Williams Sonoma brand, is resigning from the company after 12 years of service on August 1, 2019. She will be succeeded by Ryan Ross, executive vice president of Emerging Brands with the company.
“On behalf of the board and senior management team, I would like to thank Janet for her valuable contributions over her tenure at our company,” says Laura Alber, Williams-Sonoma, Inc.’s president and chief executive officer. “Her leadership of Williams Sonoma was instrumental to the brand’s success, significantly expanding its reach with new customers, chefs and food communities across the country. She was also a strong advocate for innovation, product exclusivity and entrepreneurship, strengthening Williams Sonoma’s position as one of the leading multichannel retailers of high-quality housewares. I am deeply appreciative of Janet’s partnership over the years and wish her the very best and success in her future endeavors.”
Ross has been named president of the Williams Sonoma brand. With over 20 years of retail experience, he held positions of increasing responsibility within the company’s Pottery Barn brand from 2000 to 2008, including vice president of Bed and Bath, and vice president of eCommerce. He gained international experience as the director of Harrods Direct in London. Ross then became a founding executive and chief creative officer of the Stylus Media Group. Prior to his return to the company in 2017 to lead Rejuvenation, he served as executive vice president of marketing and digital commerce at Home Shopping Network.
“Ryan is a strong leader with an impressive track record of driving innovation and growth at Rejuvenation,” says Alber. “With his deep knowledge of our company and extensive retail and digital expertise, he is well-qualified to lead our Williams Sonoma brand in its next chapter of growth.”
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a specialty retailer of high-quality products for the home. Brands include Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm, Pottery Barn Teen, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, and Mark and Graham.
SOURCE: Williams-Sonoma, Inc.