Dive Brief:
- Purple on Tuesday named Eric Haynor as its chief operating officer, effective June 6.
- Haynor most recently ran Ecolab’s North Amercian supply chain operations as senior vice president of global industrial supply chain, according to a company press release.
- Purple began a formal search for a new COO when John Legg exited the position on April 11, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Legg, who had been serving in the role since January 2019, will remain an adviser to CEO Rob DeMartini until Oct. 11.
Dive Insight:
Purple’s C-suite shakeup continues with Haynor’s appointment to COO.
Last June, the company brought on Patrice Varni — who previously worked at Dermstore, Levi’s and Tempur Seal Brands — as its chief marketing and digital officer. Purple in March this year named Jeff Hutchings as its first chief innovation officer. And late last year DeMartini was named acting CEO before officially taking over the role earlier this year.
Haynor, who comes with 30 years of experience in supply chain management, will oversee every aspect of the company’s operations as COO.
"As we continue to advance the early stages of our turnaround journey, Eric will play a significant role in returning Purple to operational excellence; a key part of our long-range profitability plan,” DeMartini said in a statement. “We are very confident in Eric's abilities to help us mature our operational activities and unlock the underlying value of our organization."
Purple benefited early on in the pandemic as the home category surged in demand. In fiscal 2020, the company’s net revenue increased 51.4% year over year to $648.5 million. And even as overall demand in the home category begins to wane, Purple appears to be holding onto some of the gains it made over the last couple of years. In fiscal 2021, the retailer lapped the prior year’s figures, reporting net revenue $726.2 million, up 12% year over year and up nearly 70% from 2019.
