Office Depot names new international division president

Office Depot promoted Steve Schmidt to president of the international division, the company said in a Nov. 14 statement. Schmidt will replace Charles Brown, who was fired in September for having an “improper relationship” with an associate.

Schmidt previously served as EVP of corporate strategy and new business development. He joined Office Depot in July 2007 as president of the North American business solutions division. Prior to Office Depot, he spent 12 years with ACNielsen Corp., including roughly five years as president and CEO.  

Schmidt will be responsible for managing the company's international contract, and direct and retail business. The unit generated $3.4 billion in revenue in 2010. He will continue to report to Neil Austrian, chairman and CEO of Office Depot.

Brown previously held the international president position. He was promoted to the role in 2005 but was ousted after having an "improper relationship" with an unnamed associate.

The company has undergone a major leadership transformation in recent months. In a major company restructuring that occurred in July, Office Depot named Bob Moore its EVP and CMO and appointed Kevin Peters president of North America, a new position. The retailer also combined its North American retail and business solutions divisions and split the role of EVP of e-commerce and direct marketing into two roles.

Austrian was named permanent chairman and CEO on May 25.

An Office Depot representative was not immediately available for comment.