News

Barnes & Noble taps new chief as plans to split company up move forward

Bookseller Barnes & Noble has a new chief running its retail business segment.

July 2, 2015

Bookseller Barnes & Noble has a new chief running its retail business segment as it moves to split the company into two entities by August.

Ronald Boire, most recently Sears Canada CEO, will lead retail operations as of September and CEO Michael Husseby will move into the role of executive chief of the retailer’s educational segment, according to an APreport Thursday.

Boire will manage the retailer’s 650 stores and Nook e-reader business. Prior to his role at Sears Canada Boire was a chief leader with Toys R Us and Best Buy, according to AP.

Earlier this year Barnes & Noble announced it intended to split the company into two parts. That announcement came after its decision to not spin off the e-reader business due to declining sales of both the e-reader and the retailer’s e-book product line.

It intends to spin off its college textbook segment as a public company and the current CEO of that business, Max Roberts, will remain in his role. The new spinoff, to be called Barnes & Noble Education Inc., has 720 stores at educational institutions.