Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Williams Sonoma Brand Changes Leadership
July 11,
2019 by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry 
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM) has announced that Janet Hayes, president of the Williams Sonoma brand, is resigning from the company after 12 years of service on August 1, 2019.
“On behalf of the board and senior management team, I would like to thank Janet for her valuable contributions over her tenure at our company,” said Laura Alber, president and CEO. “Her leadership of Williams Sonoma was instrumental to the brand’s success, significantly expanding its reach with new customers, chefs and food communities across the country. She was also a strong advocate for innovation, product exclusivity and entrepreneurship, strengthening Williams Sonoma’s position as one of the leading multichannel retailers of high-quality housewares. I am deeply appreciative of Janet’s partnership over the years and wish her the very best and success in her future endeavors.”
Hayes commented, “I am incredibly proud to have spent over a decade of my career at this company, with the last six years leading one of the most loved brands in the home industry, Williams Sonoma. During this time, I have had the opportunity to work with one of the most talented and dedicated teams in retail. I thank them for their hard work and commitment through the years and look forward to their future accomplishments.”
Ryan Ross, EVP of Emerging Brands, is succeeding Hayes and has been named the president of the Williams Sonoma brand. With over 20 years of retail experience, Ross held positions of increasing responsibility within the company’s Pottery Barn brand from 2000 to 2008, including vice president of Bed and Bath, and vice president of eCommerce. He gained international experience as the director of Harrods Direct in London, UK. He then became a founding executive and chief creative officer of the Stylus Media Group. Prior to his return to the company in 2017 to lead Rejuvenation, he served as EVP of Marketing and Digital Commerce at Home Shopping Network.
Alber commented, “Ryan is a strong leader with an impressive track record of driving innovation and growth at Rejuvenation. With his deep knowledge of our company and extensive retail and digital expertise, he is well-qualified to lead our Williams Sonoma brand in its next chapter of growth.”