The Spiegel Group on Friday named Melissa Payner president/CEO of Spiegel Catalog Inc. She replaces John Irving, who announced his resignation the same day.
Payner, 42, was senior vice president responsible for merchandising and advertising creative at Spiegel, Downers Grove, IL. She joined the company in 1997 and also is a member of the Spiegel Inc. board of directors.
Irving, 53, joined Spiegel in 1996 and played a role in the company's turnaround. At the Direct Marketing Association's 83rd Annual Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans in October, Irving detailed the cataloger's road to recovery during a session with 100 attendees.
Debbie Koopman, vice president of corporate and investor relations, said Irving was leaving to pursue other interests.
The Spiegel Group's businesses include Eddie Bauer, Newport News, Spiegel and First Consumers National Bank.
