A display at a Michael’s store
Source: Michael’s
Michaels Companies is replacing its new CEO Mark Cosby after just over two months, hiring Walmart executive Ashley Buchanan to run the arts and crafts retailer as part of a leadership shuffle announced Friday.
Buchanan will become the president and designated CEO starting on Jan. 6 while Cosby stays on through April 1 to help with the transition, the company said. Cosby will remain on the board afterward.
Cosby served as an interim CEO starting in February before officially being named CEO on Oct. 21. Prior to joining Michaels, Cosby served as president for Office Depot’s North America business.
“It has been an honor to lead Michaels and to help the company clearly define its core customer and develop a strategy centered on the Makers,” Cosby said in the press release.
Buchanan, who joined Walmart in 2007, moved from chief merchandising officer at Sam’s Club to become the chief merchandising officer for Walmart’s U.S. e-commerce business Walmart’s own executive shuffle announced in July.
“I am excited to welcome Ashley as his impressive skills and extensive experience make him uniquely suited to lead Michaels into its long and bright future,” Cosby said. “He brings innovative thinking and a wealth of merchandising and digital expertise that will help us engage our Makers and deliver unique crafting experiences.”
As part of the executive shuffle, the company announced that CFO Denise Paulonis has accepted a position with another company and will be leaving Michaels at the end of January after more than five years with the company, Michaels said.
This year has marked one with high CEO turnover. Through November, 1,480 chief executives left their companies in 2019, which is the highest number on record in the first 11 months of a year, according to business and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The highest total year on record was in 2008 when 1,484 CEOs departed when the economy was embroiled in the financial crisis. The firm started tracking CEO departures in 2002.
-CNBC’s Maggie Fitzgerald contributed to this report.