Following another year of growth, Burlington Stores Inc. announced a transition of its top senior management.
Chairman, President and CEO Thomas Kingsbury will step down on Sept. 16 after leading for more than 10 years. While remaining with the company as executive chairman of the board, Kingsbury will oversee the transition. Stepping in the role of CEO and a board member is Michael O’Sullivan, the former president and chief operating officer of Ross Stores Inc. Before joining the retailer in 2003, he was a partner at Bain & Co., providing consulting advice to retail, consumer goods, financial services and private equity clients since 1991.
O’Sullivan, who was placed by search firm Herbert Mines & Associates, is focused on expansion, stating: “Looking forward, I continue to see additional potential for comparable store sales growth, expansion of the store fleet, and improvement in operating margins.”
Additionally, Chief Merchandising Officer and Principal Jennifer Vecchio was named president and chief merchandising officer. Vecchio joined Burlington as executive vice president and chief merchandising officer in May 2015 after providing consulting services to the merchant group for the prior 18 months. From 1997 to 2011, she held various positions in merchandising at Ross Stores, including as executive vice president of merchandising for mens/fids from 2009 to 2011. And from 1988 to 1997, Vecchio worked in the merchandising organization of Macy’s Inc.
