Sears Executive and Leadership Team

August, 2026

Leadership Overview

Sears has 10 executives leading key functions including strategy, technology, finance, operations, and marketing.

Focused on delivering quality home goods and appliances across North America, Sears maintains a commitment to blending traditional retail excellence with modern e-commerce capabilities to serve diverse consumer and business segments.

Leadership Roles at Sears

  • Chief Executive Officer - Kerri Grounds
  • Chief Financial Officer - Robert Riecker
  • Chief Operations Officer & Chief Operating Officer - Ife Bethel-Sears
  • Divisional President - Jennifer Joye
  • President - Michael Melatti
  • President - Richard Jones
  • Chief Technology Officer - Miguel Myers
  • Chief of Staff - Kelly Pantuso
  • Chief Marketing Officer & Project Manager - Ricardo Zuniga
  • Divisional Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Real Estate - JoAnn Catanese
  • Kerri Grounds - Chief Executive Officer

    Kerri Grounds, the Chief Executive Officer at Sears, directs the overarching corporate strategy and long-term vision for the retail organization. By overseeing the integration of traditional department store operations with digital e-commerce platforms, the Chief Executive Officer ensures the company remains competitive in the appliance and hardware sectors. Kerri Grounds manages high-level relationships with the Board and key stakeholders to drive sustainable growth across North American markets. This leadership role involves identifying new market opportunities for bulk wholesale services while maintaining the brand legacy. Through rigorous oversight of organizational performance, the Chief Executive Officer optimizes internal processes to improve efficiency. By aligning departmental goals with the broader mission of providing accessible consumer products, the Chief Executive Officer secures the company's market position. Ultimately, the Chief Executive Officer fosters a culture of innovation that supports the evolving needs of individual consumers and institutional buyers.

    Robert Riecker - Chief Financial Officer

    Robert Riecker, the Chief Financial Officer at Sears, manages the fiscal health and capital allocation strategies for the entire retail enterprise. By overseeing financial planning, budgeting, and reporting, the Chief Financial Officer ensures the company maintains liquidity to support its extensive appliance and hardware inventory. Robert Riecker directs the financial analysis of North American operations to identify cost-saving opportunities and revenue growth potential. This leadership role involves working closely with the executive team to evaluate investment risks and returns on new retail initiatives. By maintaining rigorous internal controls, the Chief Financial Officer safeguards the company's assets and ensures compliance with regulatory standards. The Chief Financial Officer also coordinates with institutional buyers to structure favorable wholesale pricing agreements. Through precise financial forecasting, the Chief Financial Officer provides the necessary data to guide strategic decision-making. Ultimately, the Chief Financial Officer secures the long-term financial stability required to sustain the company's market presence.
    Robert Riecker

    Ife Bethel-Sears - Chief Operations Officer & Chief Operating Officer

    Ife Bethel-Sears, the Chief Operations Officer & Chief Operating Officer at Sears, directs the daily logistics and supply chain functions for the company's vast appliance and hardware inventory. By overseeing the distribution network across North America, the Chief Operations Officer & Chief Operating Officer ensures that products reach retail locations and business clients on schedule. Ife Bethel-Sears manages the operational efficiency of warehouses and fulfillment centers to minimize overhead costs. This leadership role involves optimizing inventory turnover rates for refrigerators, washers, and dryers to meet fluctuating market demand. By implementing lean management practices, the Chief Operations Officer & Chief Operating Officer improves the speed and reliability of the supply chain. The Chief Operations Officer & Chief Operating Officer also collaborates with procurement teams to negotiate terms with suppliers. Through the continuous monitoring of operational metrics, the Chief Operations Officer & Chief Operating Officer identifies bottlenecks and implements corrective actions. Ultimately, the Chief Operations Officer & Chief Operating Officer maintains the physical infrastructure necessary to support the company's retail and wholesale business models.

    Jennifer Joye - Divisional President

    Jennifer Joye, the Divisional President at Sears, oversees the performance and strategic direction of specific product divisions within the retail organization. By managing the sales and service operations for a dedicated segment of appliances and hardware, the Divisional President ensures that revenue targets are met consistently. Jennifer Joye directs the divisional team to improve customer service standards and product availability for both individual and institutional buyers. This leadership role involves analyzing regional market trends to adjust product offerings and pricing strategies. By fostering strong relationships with key business clients, the Divisional President drives growth in the wholesale sector. The Divisional President also collaborates with the marketing and operations departments to ensure that divisional goals align with the company's overall objectives. Through the effective management of divisional resources, the Divisional President enhances the profitability of the assigned product categories. Ultimately, the Divisional President contributes to the company's market success by maintaining high standards of operational excellence within the division.

    Michael Melatti - President

    Michael Melatti, the President at Sears, directs the strategic operations and business development initiatives for the company's retail and wholesale divisions. By overseeing the expansion of service offerings for contractors and institutional buyers, the President ensures the company captures a larger share of the appliance market. Michael Melatti manages the implementation of growth strategies across North American regions to increase brand visibility and sales volume. This leadership role involves coordinating with other C-suite executives to ensure that operational activities support the company's long-term financial goals. By identifying emerging market opportunities, the President drives the development of new service models for hardware and consumer products. The President also monitors competitive activity to adjust the company's market positioning accordingly. Through the leadership of cross-functional teams, the President fosters a culture of accountability and performance. Ultimately, the President secures the company's competitive advantage by driving innovation and operational efficiency across all business units.

    Richard Jones - President

    Richard Jones, the President at Sears, manages the strategic partnerships and external relations that support the company's retail and wholesale business models. By overseeing the development of alliances with major contractors and institutional buyers, the President ensures a steady pipeline of bulk appliance and hardware orders. Richard Jones directs the team responsible for maintaining high-level client satisfaction and service quality. This leadership role involves negotiating long-term contracts and service agreements that provide stable revenue streams for the company. By analyzing market demand, the President identifies new opportunities for product distribution and service expansion. The President also collaborates with the operations team to ensure that the company can meet the specific needs of large-scale institutional clients. Through the cultivation of strategic relationships, the President enhances the company's reputation as a reliable partner in the retail industry. Ultimately, the President drives business growth by expanding the company's reach and influence within the professional and institutional market segments.

    Miguel Myers - Chief Technology Officer

    Miguel Myers, the Chief Technology Officer at Sears, architects the digital infrastructure supporting the company's online presence and mobile application. By managing the technical roadmap for e-commerce platforms, the Chief Technology Officer ensures seamless transactions for both individual consumers and business clients. Miguel Myers drives the implementation of advanced data analytics to optimize inventory management for appliances and hardware. This leadership role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance the user experience across all digital touchpoints. By modernizing legacy systems, the Chief Technology Officer improves operational agility and supports the company's North American retail footprint. The Chief Technology Officer also oversees cybersecurity initiatives to protect sensitive customer data and maintain platform reliability. Through the deployment of scalable cloud solutions, the Chief Technology Officer enables the business to handle high-volume traffic during peak retail seasons. Ultimately, the Chief Technology Officer ensures that technological advancements directly contribute to revenue growth and customer satisfaction.

    Kelly Pantuso - Chief of Staff

    Kelly Pantuso, the Chief of Staff at Sears, coordinates executive communications and facilitates the execution of strategic initiatives across all departments. By managing the flow of information between the C-suite and the broader organization, the Chief of Staff ensures alignment with the company's core mission. Kelly Pantuso oversees the prioritization of key projects, allowing the leadership team to focus on critical retail and wholesale objectives. This leadership role involves organizing high-level meetings and tracking progress on major corporate goals. By streamlining internal workflows, the Chief of Staff improves operational efficiency and cross-departmental collaboration. The Chief of Staff also acts as a liaison for the Board, ensuring that executive actions remain consistent with corporate governance standards. Through the management of administrative resources, the Chief of Staff supports the daily operations of the executive office. Ultimately, the Chief of Staff drives organizational cohesion and ensures that the company's strategic vision translates into actionable results.

    Ricardo Zuniga - Chief Marketing Officer & Project Manager

    Ricardo Zuniga, the Chief Marketing Officer & Project Manager at Sears, architects the brand strategy and promotional campaigns designed to attract both individual consumers and contractors. By overseeing the development of marketing materials for appliances and hardware, the Chief Marketing Officer & Project Manager ensures consistent messaging across all digital and physical channels. Ricardo Zuniga manages the execution of specific retail projects, including seasonal sales events and loyalty program enhancements. This leadership role involves analyzing consumer behavior data to tailor marketing efforts to diverse market segments. By directing the creative team, the Chief Marketing Officer & Project Manager maintains the company's reputation as a trusted provider of home goods. The Chief Marketing Officer & Project Manager also coordinates with the sales department to align promotional activities with inventory availability. Through the effective management of marketing budgets, the Chief Marketing Officer & Project Manager maximizes the return on advertising spend. Ultimately, the Chief Marketing Officer & Project Manager drives customer acquisition and brand loyalty through targeted, data-driven initiatives.

    JoAnn Catanese - Divisional Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Real Estate

    JoAnn Catanese, the Divisional Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Real Estate at Sears, manages the technological systems and data assets associated with the company's extensive real estate portfolio. By overseeing the digital tools used for property management and site selection, the Divisional Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Real Estate ensures that physical retail locations operate with maximum efficiency. JoAnn Catanese directs the integration of real estate data into the company's broader business intelligence platforms. This leadership role involves evaluating the technological needs of various retail sites to support the sale of appliances and hardware. By implementing smart building solutions, the Divisional Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Real Estate improves energy efficiency and reduces operational costs across the North American footprint. The Divisional Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Real Estate also collaborates with the finance team to assess the value and performance of physical assets. Through the strategic use of technology, the Divisional Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Real Estate optimizes the utility of the company's real estate holdings.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Sears Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Sears?
    Sears is led by Kerri Grounds (Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Robert Riecker (Chief Financial Officer) and Ife Bethel-Sears (Chief Operations Officer & Chief Operating Officer).
    Who is part of Sears’s executive team?
    The executive team of Sears includes leaders such as Kerri Grounds (Chief Executive Officer), Robert Riecker (Chief Financial Officer), Ife Bethel-Sears (Chief Operations Officer & Chief Operating Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Sears have?
    Sears has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Sears’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Sears includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operations Officer & Chief Operating Officer, Divisional President, President.