Dive Brief:
- A year after naming a chief merchandising and marketing officer, Guitar Center has named Jerry Brandehoff as its new chief merchant, according to a Feb. 4 press release. He stepped into the role on Feb. 3.
- Brandehoff most recently served as chief merchant of Wayfair. He also previously held senior positions with Gap, Inc., PVH and Williams Sonoma, Inc.
- Brandehoff is in charge of the company’s merchandising, including buying and planning its general merchandise and private label brands across the retailer’s channels.
Dive Insight:
With Brandehoff’s appointment, the reshaping of Guitar Center’s C-suite continues. The company stated that his appointment reflects its ongoing growth initiatives.
“Jerry is a dynamic and inspirational retail executive with over 30 years of experience leading merchandising and product teams for world-class global brands,” CEO Gabe Dalporto said in a statement. “He was selected after an extensive search, and he stood out as the clear leader to help deliver our critical strategic priorities this year.”
Last March, Guitar Center brought on Kristin Shane as its chief merchandising and marketing officer. She exited the company after approximately six months, according to her LinkedIn page. Guitar Center did not immediately respond to questions regarding Shane’s exit or the splitting of the chief merchandising and marketing officer roles.
In November 2023, the musical instrument retailer named Dalporto as its chief executive and appointed Ken Hicks as its new board chairman. The company also brought back its former chief financial officer, Tim Martin, who previously served in that role between 2012 and 2022.
Last summer, Guitar Center hired Adolfo Rodriguez as its chief technology and information officer, bringing with him more than 25 years of experience at companies such as Advance Auto Parts, Citrix and IBM. In October, the company named Mike Schultheis as its chief stores officer, where he oversees the company’s retail stores.