Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM) announced today that Grace Puma,
Christiana Smith Shi and Frits van Paasschen have been elected to its
Board of Directors.
“We are delighted to have Grace, Christiana and Frits join our Board,”
said Adrian Bellamy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. “They each bring a wealth of experience across
global retail and operations that we believe will be instrumental in
guiding our continued success.”
Laura Alber, President and Chief Executive Officer, joined Bellamy in
welcoming Puma, Shi and van Paasschen to the Board. “We look forward to
the strategic input of these widely respected leaders as we work
together to drive shareholder value.”
Bellamy and Alber expressed their thanks to Adrian Dillon, Ted Hall and
Lorraine Twohill, who did not stand for reelection upon expiration of
their terms. “We greatly appreciate their years of dedicated service to
the company and their many contributions to our Board.”
Puma has served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Officer of
PepsiCo, Inc. since 2015, and was Senior Vice President and Chief
Procurement Officer from 2010 to 2015. Previously, Puma was Senior Vice
President and Chief Procurement Officer of United Airlines from 2007 to
2010. Prior to that, she was Vice President at Kraft Foods, where she
held a variety of positions with increasing responsibilities in
procurement. Puma also previously served as a director of Marietta
Corporation.
Shi is the founder and principal of Lovejoy Advisors, LLC, an advisory
services firm for digitally transforming consumer and retail businesses.
Previously, Shi served as President of Nike Inc.’s Direct to Consumer
business from 2013 to 2016, Vice President of E-Commerce from 2012 to
2013, and Chief Operating Officer for Global DTC from 2010 to 2012.
Prior to Nike, Shi spent 24 years with McKinsey & Co., Inc., including
being elected Director and Senior Partner in 2000. Shi has also served
as a director of West Marine, Inc. since 2011 and Mondelez
International, Inc. since 2016.
Van Paasschen currently serves as the Chairman of Apollo Hotels, a
member of the Supervisory Board of Royal DSM, and a member of the Board
of Advisors of CitizenM Hotels and Rutberg & Company LLC. Van Paasschen
served as President, Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Hotels and
Resorts from 2007 to 2015. He was President, Chief Executive Officer of
Coors Brewing Company from 2005 to 2007. Van Paasschen held several
management positions at Nike, Inc. from 1997 to 2004, ultimately
becoming Nike’s President of Europe, Middle East and Africa. He
previously served as a director of Barclays PLC, Jones Apparel Group,
Inc. and Oakley, Inc. Van Paasschen is also the author of The
Disruptors’ Feast.
ABOUT WILLIAMS-SONOMA, INC.
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a specialty retailer of high-quality products
for the home. These products, representing eight distinct merchandise
strategies – Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm,
PBteen, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, and Mark and Graham – are
marketed through e-commerce websites, direct mail catalogs and retail
stores. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. currently operates in the United States,
Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, offers international shipping
to customers worldwide, and has unaffiliated franchisees that operate
stores in the Middle East and the Philippines and stores
and e-commerce websites in Mexico.
