Claire Watts joins QVC

QVC Inc. has announced that Claire Watts will join the company next month and will become its president of US Commerce on May 1.

Watts spend the past ten years with Wal-Mart in various executive positions, most recently serving as EVP of merchandising, where she had experience with the apparel, jewelry, accessories and home product categories. Prior to Wal-Mart, she held senior merchandising and product roles at Paul Harris, The Limited and Lands End.

In her new position at West Chester, PA-based QVC, Watts will oversee planning, programming, merchandising, broadcasting, TV sales and QVC.com for its US operation. She will play a key role in extending the QVC brand among existing and new customers and driving growth across all platforms.

Watts joins QVC during a time of transition. Over the past several months, the company launched its first-ever national advertising campaign, redesigned QVC.com and updated its on-air look with new studio sets and fresh graphics. QVC also recently announced that it will be simulcast in high definition in 2008.

"QVC's unique approach and multimedia platform represents the future of retailing,” said Watts in a statement.

Watts was named one of Fortune magazine's 50 Most Powerful Women in 2004, 2005 and 2006.