Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has named a new head of its merchandise planning team, continuing its makeover, it announced Monday.
John Welling, who has decades of experience in the industry, joins the Union-based retailer as senior vice president, merchandise planning, allocation & operations, effective immediately, according to a news release. He will report to Chief Merchandising Officer Joe Hartsig, also the president of Harmon Health & Beauty Stores unit.
“We’re proud to serve one in five households across the country, and we are building on our strong authority in the home market,” Hartsig said in a prepared statement. “John brings industry-leading experience in retail transformation, inventory management, merchandise planning and store operations, expertise that will help advance our foundational capabilities, improve the experience for our customers and drive increased profitability across our assortment.”
In his new role, Welling will be responsible for helping lead the transformation of Bed Bath & Beyond’s inventory planning and replenishment strategy, a pillar of the firm’s new strategic growth plan. He has held senior leadership positions at JC Penney, the Michaels Cos. and Walmart, among others.
“This iconic brand has been integral to generations of people across North America, and I’m delighted to join Bed Bath & Beyond at a time when its role is more important than ever,” he said in a statement. “I’m excited to help establish new capabilities that unlock growth and build on the strong authority of this business in the home.”
