Sharper Image names new president/CEO

Sharper Image Corp. said yesterday that Steven A. Lightman, former president of Crosstown Traders Inc., will succeed Jerry W. Levin as CEO of Sharper Image on April 9.

In September, Mr. Levin was named chairman of the board and interim CEO of Sharper Image, San Francisco, after founder Richard Thalheimer left in the wake of steadily declining sales at the multichannel merchant.

Mr. Levin will remain chairman and Mr. Lightman, who has more than 25 years of experience in catalog and direct retail management, will assume the role of president/CEO. He will also join the company's board of directors.

Mr. Lightman was instrumental in forming Crosstown Traders, Tucson, AZ, in 2002. The apparel, food and gift catalogs had been owned by Federated Department Stores and its Fingerhut subsidiary. Crosstown itself was acquired by Charming Shoppes Inc. in 2005. Mr. Lightman served as president of Crosstown until January.

Before his tenure at Crosstown, Mr. Lightman was executive vice president of Fingerhut Companies, Minneapolis.