As a refresher, Michael Christ rented a copy of the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” when he became manager of Tiffany’s Magnificent Mile store in 1995.
Christ, who admits to having seen the flick that surfaced in 1961 “perhaps a dozen times,” now knows Tiffany–the store–inside out. And the upscale specialty retailer’s Manhattan headquarters approves of his performance because, once again, he has moved up the corporate ladder.
Christ, who less than three years ago was appointed central regional VP for Tiffany & Co., a post responsible for four stores, now becomes group VP for all store operations, not only in the central region, but in the southwest, northwest and Pacific regions as well. That’s 19 stores, and two others to be opened.
Christ remains based here, and reporting to him will be newly promoted Catherine Elward, who becomes VP of Tiffany’s Chicago store at 730 N. Michigan. Elward had been director of Tiffany’s store in Oak Brook, a post not filled right away.
Tiffany has 38 existing stores in the U.S.; one of the new stores being opened under Christ’s command is in Maui, the second on that Hawaiian island.
Tiffany’s flagship Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan reportedly does 25 percent of the firm’s total U.S. volume; its stores in Beverly Hills and on Michigan Avenue are running “neck and neck” for the No. 2 position in sales. The Mag Mile store has been showing a double-digit gain since it moved across the street in November 1998.
Tiffany U.S. sales have been strong (up 26 percent to $741 million for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31), but the price of its stock has been on a slide like most other retailers, closing Monday at $64.87 a share, versus a 52-week high of $90 in late December, and a low of $33.50.
Christ, a native of downstate Carlyle, got his baptism in retailing while working at a hardware store in high school.
“I have always loved retailing,” says Christ, a Notre Dame graduate with a degree in finance and economics, whose retailing background included stints at Bloomingdale’s, heading its Michigan Avenue store from 1991 to 1995, before moving down the street to Tiffany. Nice going, Michael.
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Big Mac picks Peleo-Lazar: Marlena Peleo-Lazar, recently deputy executive creative director at Ogilvy & Mather Chicago, which she joined three years ago after a 20-year stint at Leo Burnett Co., on April 1 becomes VP-chief creative officer at McDonald’s USA at its Oak Brook headquarters. She assumes a post recently held by Roy Bergold, who is retiring but will remain with McDonald’s during the transition period. Peleo-Lazar reports to Larry Zwain, senior VP-marketing, McDonald’s USA. Separately, Greg Elliott moved up to VP of communications at International Truck and Engine Corp. (formerly Navistar International Transportation Corp.), assuming a post that had been held by Maril G. MacDonald, who continues as CEO and a partner of Matha MacDonald, a communications consulting firm formed with Robert Matha, president, also a partner, in mid 1998 to primarily serve Navistar as a client. Subsequently, Matha MacDonald has picked up McDonald’s Corp., United Airlines and Ajion Moto USA, a Paramus, N.J.-based foods and food ingredients firm. Matha MacDonald now has a staff of 19.
Strictly Personal: Birthday greetings to Rich Melman, 58; artist Renee McGinnis, 38; Theresa Pratscher-Brak, 36; attorney Quin R. Frazer, 55; Phil Whitfield, 55 (Media Visions); Grace Olenick, 42; John Lagestee Jr., 41 (Walt’s Food Centers); Peter H. Huizenga, 61 (Huizenga Capital Management); and Dave Gusse, 41 (Ace Hardware).
– KemperLesnik Communications was assigned marketing communications, including PR, for a new travel Web site being developed by United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and Continental Airlines. The Chicago office of The Boston Consulting Group is overseeing development of the Web site.
– Charles E. Levine, the Kansas City, Mo.-based chief sales and marketing officer of Sprint PCS, speaks at Friday’s Executives Breakfast Club of Oakbrook meeting at Drury Lane Theatre and Convention Center, Oakbrook Terrrace. The club expects 400. For info, 630-325-7482.