Kirkland's Home CEO to Retire

Home decor and furnishings retailer Kirkland’s Home will soon have a new chief executive as current President and CEO Steve “Woody” Woodward announced his retirement, effective May 31. 

Ann Joyce, who currently serves as a board member for Kirkland's Home, will be stepping into the role of Interim CEO until a successor is named. Joyce brings an extensive background in the retail industry, having served in various executive and senior-level positions for notable companies such as Chico's FAS, Aeropostale and Ralph Lauren.

Additionally, Amy Sullivan, the company's senior vice president and chief merchandising and stores officer, has been promoted to the role of president and chief operating officer. Sullivan has served in various senior level merchandising positions with Kirkland's for more than a decade. In recent years, her leadership role expanded to include global sourcing, stores and omni-channel operations. Prior to her tenure at Kirkland's Home, she held senior-level positions for Express, Lands' End, Kohl's and JCPenney.  

"On behalf of our board, I would like to thank Woody for his tremendous service and dedication to Kirkland's Home over the years," said R. Wilson Orr, chairman of Kirkland's Home. "As we begin to navigate this transition, I'm pleased we have an experienced retail executive in Ann to lead our organization. Ann brings a wealth of experience in retail operations that has proven to be of significant value at the board level. We also congratulate Amy on her well-deserved promotion and enhanced leadership role."

Commenting on his retirement, Woodward stated: "It has been a pleasure serving Kirkland's Home, and I'm thankful for the resiliency shown across our entire organization as we've navigated the unprecedented macroeconomic challenges of these last few years. Despite these challenges, I'm proud to say we made significant strides improving the quality and design of our merchandise, refreshing the look and feel of our stores, enhancing our omni-channel experience and optimizing our distribution footprint."