MAIN NEWS HEADLINES
September 17 – September 24, 2009 Edition

Borders Names New VP of Merchandising

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Authorlink News, Sept. 15, 2009)— Michael J. Edwards, a  26-year retail veteran, has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer for Borders Group, Inc. Effective September 28,  Edwards will report to Borders Group Chief Executive Officer Ron Marshall and be responsible for developing and executing merchandising and marketing strategies to drive sales and profit as Borders works to re-engage with customers as a bookseller for serious readers.

Edwards, 49, will lead teams responsible for buying and merchandising, inventory allocation and control, supply chain, customer relationship management—including the 34-million member Borders Rewards® loyalty program—marketing and e-commerce.

With Edwards’ appointment, Borders Group also announced the departure of Anne Kubek, 43, who joined Borders Group in 1990 and most recently served as Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Marketing.

“We look forward to Mike joining the company to focus with urgency on driving business results and delivering an outstanding experience for our customers,” said Marshall. “He is a dynamic leader with extensive expertise in merchandising, marketing and operations, as well as a proven ability to reposition companies for success, which is critical for Borders.” 

“Building the Borders brand is an exciting opportunity,” Edwards said. “I am anxious to bring innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit to the merchandising and marketing functions and believe that the path toward business results starts with a focus on the customer.”

Most recently, Edwards served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ellington Leather, a Portland, OR-based leather handbags and accessories wholesaler with products sold through specialty stores including Clarks and Eddie Bauer as well as online merchants and national catalogs including Garnet Hill. 

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. is a leading retailer of books, music and movies with approximately 25,000 employees worldwide. Through its subsidiaries, the company operates more than 1,000 stores primarily under the Borders® and Waldenbooks® brand names and offers online shopping through Borders.com. For more information about the company, visit www.borders.com.