Borders Group announces changes, additions to merchandising team

Borders announces changes on merchandising team

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Borders Group announced Monday that it is making several changes to its merchandising team under the direction of chief merchandising officer Michele Cloutier, including bringing back Kathryn Popoff as vice president for merchandising.

Popoff, 40, will oversee the promotion and merchandising of trade and bargain books for adults. She originally joined Borders in 2002 as director of multimedia. In 2004, she was named director of merchandising for adult trade books. She later became vice president for merchandising, a position she held until 2009.

Larry Norton, 52, will become senior vice president for business development and publisher relations; he was senior vice president for merchandising.

Children’s merchandising director Renee Rockwood, 43, will now oversee gifts and stationery as well.

Mike Ferrari has joined the company as merchandise director for trade books. He held several positions, including director of digital content, at rival Barnes & Noble Inc. The company would not provide Ferrari’s age.

Joanna Goldstein, 34, will be vice president of non-book merchandising, shifting from vice president for marketing.

CEO Mike Edwards said the company sees strong growth opportunities outside of books, in categories such as digital, stationery, gifts and toys.

Shares of Borders fell 2 cents to $1.20 in afternoon trading Monday.