Robert Boire stepping down as CEO of Sears Canada

This morning, Sears Canada Inc. announced that Robert Boire would be stepping down as President and CEO of the company. According to the press release from the morning of July 2, 2015, he will be leaving, "at the end of the summer to pursue an opportunity in the United States.” Barnes and Noble then released a statement saying that he will be the new CEO of their company's retail business.

Boire was named the interim CEO of Sears Canada in fall 2014, and became CEO in January of 2015. Effective immediately, Brian Stranzl, the current chairman, will be the executive chairman. “I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to play an expanded role within our organization, and I am committed to working closely with all our Sears associates and business partners to make progress on our goals to delight our customers and return Sears Canada to profitability,” Stranzl said in a statement.

Sears Canada Inc. is now in pursuit of a new CEO. Boire, on the other hand, will have his work cut out for him at Barnes and Noble. Given that book stores are currently struggling due to iPads and electronic ways to read books taking over, he will be tasked with finding a strategy to keep Barnes and Noble successful in difficult times for brick-and-mortar book stores. Hopefully his business success at Sears Canada Inc. will transfer over to his role at Barnes and Noble.