ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 13, 2009--
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW), an interactive entertainment
retailer of customized stuffed animals, today announced the appointment
of John N. Haugh to the newly created position of president and chief
marketing and merchandising bear, effective March 16, 2009.
The company also announced that effective immediately Tina Klocke has
been named chief operations and financial bear. Klocke will assume
formal responsibility for store operations in addition to her continuing
role as chief financial bear.
“With Tina leading our store teams and John heading up marketing,
merchandising and strategic planning, our management team is fully
aligned to work collaboratively to manage our business as we strengthen
our entertainment offerings, including Buildabearville.com®
our virtual world,” said Maxine Clark, Build-A-Bear Workshop chairman
and chief executive bear.
Haugh, 46, will lead the Build-A-Bear Workshop marketing, merchandising
and strategic planning teams and support functions to drive sales growth
and profitability. He will report to Maxine Clark.
“John has a tremendous track record of brand building and a unique blend
of marketing, merchandising, product development and licensing
experience that spans the retail, hospitality, entertainment, and
consumer products industries,” said Maxine Clark. “John combines a
highly analytic approach to decision making and problem solving with a
passion for brand building. We’ve created this new position, combining
the role of president with leadership of our marketing, merchandising
and strategic planning teams, to reflect John’s role in leading our
intensified company-wide focus on driving sales growth through results
oriented multi-channel brand-building strategies.”
Klocke, 49, joined Build-A-Bear Workshop as chief financial bear in 1997
as part of the company’s founding team. Her new position formalizes the
oversight of the store operations team she assumed in October 2008. In
addition to store operations, her responsibilities continue to include
the finance and accounting, investor relations and public relations
functions.
Haugh most recently served as president of It’s Sugar, LLC, a candy and
confectionery retailer. From 2004 through 2007, he served as president
of Mars Retail Group where he led all retail business operations for
Mars, Incorporated including the retail expansion of M&M’s World. While
at Mars, Haugh established metrics-based retail best practices to
deliver growth across all channels.
Prior to joining Mars Retail Group, Haugh was chief marketing officer
and senior vice president, worldwide business development at Payless
ShoeSource, Inc. From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Haugh was executive vice
president, marketing and sales for Universal Studios, Inc. Early in his
career, Mr. Haugh held marketing and sales positions at General Mills,
Inc.
Haugh earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin and
his Master of Business Administration at the International Institute of
Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland. Mr. Haugh serves on the
Board of Directors of Aéropostale, Inc.
Prior to joining Build-A-Bear Workshop in 1997, Ms. Klocke was the
Controller for Clayton Corporation, a manufacturing company, where she
supervised all accounting and finance functions as well as human
resources. Prior to joining Clayton Corporation in 1990, she was the
controller for Love Real Estate Company, a diversified investment
management and development firm. She began her career in 1982 with Ernst
& Young LLP. Ms. Klocke is a member of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants.
About Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., is the leading and only global company that
offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment
experience. Founded in 1997, the company and its franchisees currently
operate more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop® stores
worldwide, including company-owned stores in the United States, Puerto
Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France, and franchise
stores in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. In 2007, the interactive
experience was enhanced - all the way to CyBEAR™ space - with
the launch of buildabearville.com®, the company’s virtual
world, stuffed with fun. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total
revenue of $468 million in fiscal 2008. For more information, call
888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company’s award-winning Web site, www.buildabear.com.
Source: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
Molly Salky, 314-423-8000, ext.
5353
or
Jill Saunders, 314-423-8000, ext. 5293