ANDREW BLECHER PROMOTED TO NEW PR POST AT HUDSON’S BAY

Andrew Blecher has been promoted to SVP Corporate Communications and Public Relations of Hudson’s Bay Company, which has created a newly established Corporate Communications and Public Relations division, as part of its focus on creating “Centers of Excellence” in key functions across the organization. The new division comprises Corporate Communications, Banner Public Relations, Global Communications and Internal Communications.

Blecher began his career at Saks Fifth Avenue nearly 15 years ago. He left for four years to assume a leadership role at an outside PR agency, where HBC was his lead client. He was then hired by HBC in 2014, followings its acquisition of Saks, initially in the role of SVP of PR and Events.

“The creation of a Communications Center of Excellence aligns with our efforts to ensure we are leveraging our talent across all of our banners and have clear and effective communications to support our long-term growth strategies,” said Jerry Storch, Hudson’s Bay Company CEO. “Andrew’s track record with HBC makes him the ideal person to elevate the communications function within the organization and to develop and execute a strategic communications roadmap that reflects a truly global retail operation.”

Founded in 1670, HBC is the oldest company in North America. HBC’s leading banners include Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Gilt, and Saks OFF 5TH, along with Find @ Lord & Taylor and Home Outfitters. In Europe, its banners include GALERIA Kaufhof, the largest department store group in Germany, Belgium’s only department store group Galeria INNO, as well as Sportarena. The company has more than 460 stores worldwide and 66,000 employees around the world.