Home Depot’s chief merchant Ted Decker has assumed the presidential reins.

By Alan Wolf, YSN

No. 1 home improvement chain and No. 2 appliance retailer The Home Depot has made some major changes at the top.

Setting the stage for the next generation of company management, chairman and CEO Craig Menear has relinquished his president’s title to Edward “Ted” Decker, the retailer’s chief merchant. In his new role, which also carries a COO title, the former merchandising executive VP is now responsible for supply chain and store operations worldwide, along with outside sales and service.

Decker will also continue to oversee all store and online merchandising departments, merchandising strategy, services and vendor management, marketing, and the in-store environment.

Succeeding him in the merchandising slot is Jeff Kinnaird, previously president of The Home Depot Canada. Kinnaird, who began his career with the company 25 years ago as an hourly lumber aisle clerk, reports directly to Decker. He was succeeded in turn by Michael Rowe, who previously handled e-commerce, marketing and contractor service for The Home Depot Canada, and before that served as its CFO.

One of Decker’s top lieutenants is Ann-Marie Campbell, who adds international operations to her title of executive VP of U.S. stores. Her new responsibilities include operations, business functions and strategy for the company’s Canadian and Mexican businesses, and both Rowe and his Mexico counterpart, Jose “Pepe” Rodriguez, report to her directly.

Completing the senior management shuffle is CFO Richard McPhail, and executive VP who was given additional responsibility for Home Depot’s corporate strategy and strategic business development.

The new appointments are all effective today (Oct. 5, 2020).

“We are extremely fortunate to have what I believe to be one of the finest executive leadership teams in retail,” CEO Menear said in a statement. “Ted’s promotion and the additional changes we are announcing will further strengthen the team’s strategic leadership and operational efficiency, while I continue to focus over the next few years on the long-term growth and strategic positioning of the company.”

Home Depot ranked second behind Lowe’s and ahead of Best Buy on TWICE magazine’s Top 50 Appliance Retailers ranking for 2020. It’s 2,294 stores throughout North America generated $110.2 billion in revenue during fiscal 2019, netting the company earnings of $11.2 billion.

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