What: Saks Global establishes a unified commercial leadership structure under President Emily Essner, combining executives from Saks and Neiman Marcus while breaking from traditional retail roles in favor of an integrated approach.

Why it is important: This organisational restructuring signals a fundamental shift in luxury retail management, replacing traditional department store hierarchies with an integrated, technology-driven approach to meet evolving market demands.

The newly formed Saks Global commercial team brings together key executives from both Saks and Neiman Marcus, with five senior leaders reporting directly to Emily Essner, president and chief commercial officer. The appointments include Cheryl Han as chief digital officer, Kristin Maa as chief marketing officer, Paolo Riva in the new role of chief brand partnerships and buying officer, Stephanie Salierno as SVP of merchandise, and Nivy Swaminathan as SVP of commercial analytics. This structure deliberately moves away from traditional roles like chief merchant, focusing instead on integrated functions across merchandising, marketing, customer analytics, and e-commerce. While consolidating these operations, Bergdorf Goodman maintains separate management under Tracy Margolies.

IADS Notes: The formation of Saks Global's senior team represents a significant milestone in luxury retail transformation. Following the $2.7 billion Neiman Marcus acquisition, the company is implementing a radical organisational structure that eliminates traditional roles. The new centralised team, reporting to Emily Essner, reflects Saks Global's commitment to technology-driven retail, combining talent from both organisations while maintaining Bergdorf Goodman's separate management.

Saks Global forms senior team, blending talent from Neiman Marcus and Saks