Hudson's Bay Company Announces Corporate Communications & Public Relations Function Led by Andrew Blecher

Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) announced today a newly established Corporate Communications and Public Relations division, as part of its focus on creating “Centers of Excellence” (COE) in key functions across the organization. The new division comprises Corporate Communications, Banner Public Relations, Global Communications and Internal Communications. Andrew Blecher has been promoted to SVP Corporate Communications and Public Relations and will lead the function.

“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.”

Mr. 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.

About Hudson's Bay Company

Hudson’s Bay Company is one of the fastest-growing department store retailers in the world, based on its successful formula of driving the performance of high quality stores and their all-channel offerings, unlocking the value of real estate holdings and growing through acquisitions. Founded in 1670, HBC is the oldest company in North America. HBC’s portfolio today includes ten banners, in formats ranging from luxury to better department stores to off price fashion shopping destinations, with more than 460 stores and 66,000 employees around the world.

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.

HBC has significant investments in real estate joint ventures. It has partnered with Simon Property Group Inc. in the HBS Global Properties Joint Venture, which owns properties in the United States and Germany. In Canada, it has partnered with RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust in the RioCan-HBC Joint Venture.

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