Big Lots, Inc. announced the appointment of two new leaders to fill roles on its senior leadership team. Experienced stores leader Kristen Cox is joining Big Lots as SVP, Chief Stores Officer, and closeout merchandising leader Seth Marks is joining the company in the newly formed role of SVP, Extreme Value Sourcing, focused on procuring outstanding products at exceptional values through unique closeout opportunities. Both Cox and Marks will begin in their roles on December 4, 2023.

As Chief Stores Officer, Cox will be responsible for developing and implementing operational strategies to drive sales, improve margins, and enhance customer service across all stores. She fills the role left vacant by the retirement of Nick Padovano earlier this year. Cox will report directly to President and CEO Bruce Thorn.

Cox is a senior retail executive with nearly three decades of experience across various areas of store operations. She joins Big Lots after spending the last six and half years at Burlington Stores, where she served as SVP of Human Resources for all stores and before that SVP of Northeast and Midwest stores. Before Burlington, Cox was EVP of Stores for Macy's Inc. North Central Region from 2013 to 2017, capping a total of 14 years in key leadership positions with Macy's. Her experiences included driving sales through leading regional store teams, building customer service and selling strategies, developing tools and processes to shape enterprise strategy and culture, and improving operating efficiencies.

Kristen began her career in stores with Macy's in 1994. In the newly created role of SVP, Extreme Value Sourcing, Marks will lead an accelerated strategic deal sourcing initiative focused on procuring outstanding products at exceptional values through unique closeout opportunities, while providing higher recoveries to sellers in need of timely inventory monetization. Marks will report directly to President and CEO Bruce Thorn.

Marks first served as Vice President, Merchandising at Big Lots from 2004 to 2007, when Big Lots was the clear market leader in broadline closeout retail, and is returning to the company with a wealth of additional off-price retail experience, including liquidation, closeout, and alternative sourcing relationships. He rejoins Big Lots from Channel Control Merchants, where he most recently served as the Chief Merchandising Officer. Prior to his position at Channel Control, Marks served as the CEO of Hilco Wholesale Solutions and Chief Merchant for Hilco Merchant Resources, the world's largest liquidation firm.

His previous experience also includes serving as CEO of Liquidation World, Senior Vice President of Merchandising & Strategic Initiatives at Overstock.com and Head of Off Price at Sears Holdings.