TOM OTT NAMED CHIEF MERCHANT OF SAKS OFF 5TH AND GILT

Canadian mega retailer Hudson’s Bay Company has named Tom Ott as its new chief merchant of its Saks Off 5th and Gilt brands.

Ott succeeds Kristen Sosa, who this week was named chief merchant of Olivela, a new luxury e-commerce site with a charity component.

He has most recently served as the company’s senior vice president and general merchandise manager of menswear and concession of HBC’s  Saks Fifth Avenue brand, where he spent 22 years of his career.

Ott joined Saks in 1995 as buyer of men’s designer clothing and rose up to vice president and divisional merchandise manager of men’s tailored clothing, personal furnishings, home and food, before becoming a general merchandise manager and senior vice president. He also once worked at an off-price retailer called Gentry Clothiers, serving as merchandise vice president, men’s furnishings and sportswear. He began his retailing career in 1988 as an executive trainee with Lord & Taylor.