Nordstrom Inc. has plucked an internal candidate for the CIO position vacated last month when the Seattle-based retailer made sweeping top-level management changes in response to slumping sales growth.
The new CIO, Mike Richardson, 44, joined Nordstrom eight years ago as an information technology software development manager, gaining experience in several areas, including sales audit, payroll, human resources, employee benefits and merchandising.
Two years ago, Richardson was named IT development manager for the Nordstrom Product Group, and last year he was promoted to division vice president of enterprise development and architecture.
Prior to joining Nordstrom, Richardson accumulated more than 12 years of IT experience in the manufacturing and banking industries. He replaces Richard Lennon, Nordstrom's first CIO, who left last month after just seven months on the job.
Other departing executives included CEO and Chairman John Whitacre and 19-year veteran Marty Wikstrom, who headed the full-line store group. Nordstrom family members assumed those roles. Bruce Nordstrom, 66, came out of retirement to fill the chairman's spot; Blake Nordstrom, 39, was named president; and Pete Nordstrom, 38, heads the full-line store group.