Big Lots President and CEO David Campisi Retires

April 20, 2018  by Jason Schneider in Business Strategy, Executive Changes, Industry   

Campisi, who had been on a leave of absence for medical reasons since Dec. 2017, has decided to retire in order to focus fully on his health.

Lisa M. Bachmann, executive vice president, chief merchandising and operating officer, and Timothy A. Johnson, executive vice president, chief administrative officer and chief financial officer, will continue to work closely with the company's executive leadership team and board of directors to carry out Campisi's executive responsibilities.

The Big Lots board has initiated a formal search process to identify a permanent successor CEO and is in the process of retaining an executive search firm to assist the board in identifying and reviewing both internal and external candidates.

"On behalf of the board, I want to thank David for his years of dedicated service to Big Lots," said Jim Chambers, non-executive chair of the board. "David has provided strong leadership during an important period in the company's history, and one of his lasting legacies will be the talented team that he developed at Big Lots. We sincerely appreciate David's many contributions to Big Lots and wish him a long and healthy retirement."

"After considerable thought, I have decided that the best course of action—for both me personally and Big Lots as an organization—is for me to retire and focus fully on my health,” said Campisi. ”I also plan to pursue additional community-based activities during my retirement. Lisa and T.J. have done an excellent job executing my responsibilities, and will continue to do so while the board searches for my successor.

“I have the upmost confidence in them, along with the rest of the executive leadership team, in continuing to successfully guide Big Lots forward,” he added.