Retail
10 Saks Fifth Avenue executives
These ten Saks Fifth Avenue executives include three former chief executives, a former chief marketing officer, a general counsel and senior vice presidents who led operations, stores, merchandise planning and human resources. A reader can learn how Saks Fifth Avenue executives have approached luxury retail, from store operations and planning to marketing and legal work.
Professionals to explore
01—10Debra McRae
LinkedInExperience: SVP Human Resources-Stores · Saks Fifth Avenue
Former SVP Human Resources-Stores at Saks Fifth Avenue (2007–2009), a role her profile says involved directing human resources for 54 luxury goods retail stores and 10,000 employees. Her other Saks Fifth Avenue roles were VP Human Resources (1995–2007), Director Human Resources, New York Store (1986–1995) and Director Human Resources, San Francisco, CA (1982–1986).
Emily Essner
LinkedInExperience: Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Ecommerce, Saks Fifth Avenue · Saks Fifth Avenue
Former Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Ecommerce, Saks Fifth Avenue (2020–2024) and former SVP, Marketing & Digital at Saks Fifth Avenue (2017–2020). She was President & Chief Commercial Officer at Saks Global (2024–2025), where her profile says she led cross-functional teams to drive growth and elevate customer experience.
Fred Wilson
LinkedInExperience: Chairman and CEO · Saks Fifth Avenue
Former Chairman and CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue (2003–2006), listed on his profile as Retired CEO at Saks Fifth Avenue. He was Chief Executive Officer of Donna Karan Company (2001–2003), Chief Executive Officer of LVMH Fashion Group USA, Canada, Latin America/E-Luxury dot com (2000–2002) and President DFS Merchandising at DFS Group Limited (1984–2001).
John Wiehe
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President Operations · Saks Fifth Avenue
Former Senior Vice President Operations at Saks Fifth Avenue (2021–2025). His other Saks Fifth Avenue roles were Vice President Of Store Operations (2017–2021), Vice President - Store Operations (2016–2017) and VP, Operations and Finance (2012–2016), and he has been SVP at Exemplar Luxury Group since 2026.
Marc Metrick
LinkedInExperience: CEO, Saks · Saks Fifth Avenue
Former CEO, Saks at Saks Fifth Avenue (2021–2024), President & CEO (2020–2021), President (2015–2020) and Chief Strategy Officer (2007–2011) there, and former CEO of Saks Global (2024–2026). His profile describes the Saks Global CEO role as overseeing the retail and consumer businesses, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks OFF 5TH.
Stephanie Salierno
LinkedInExperience: SVP Head of Merchandise Planning · Saks Fifth Avenue
Former SVP Head of Merchandise Planning at Saks Fifth Avenue (2019–2021) and former VP Merchandise Planning there (2015–2019); she has been SVP Head of Merchandise Planning at Saks Global since 2021. She was also Senior Director of Planning at Saks Fifth Avenue in 2013 and Senior Director of Planning, Digital at Coach (2013–2015).
Stephen Sadove
LinkedInExperience: Chairman and CEO · Saks Fifth Avenue
Former Chairman and CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue (2006–2013). He has been Founding Partner at JW Levin Managemnt Partners since 2016, was Principal at Stephen Sadove and Associates (2013–2024) and was CEO Clairol at Bristol Myers Squibb (1991–2001); a separate listing shows him as President Clairol at Clairol for the same years.
Susan Maersk-Moller
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President Regional Director of Stores, Saks Fifth Avenue · Saks Fifth Avenue
Former Senior Vice President Regional Director of Stores, Saks Fifth Avenue (2014–2025), Senior Vice President Saks Fifth Avenue Club In-Residence (2024–2025) and Senior Vice President Regional Director of Stores, Saks Global (2025–2026), all listed under Saks Fifth Avenue. She was Senior Vice President Regional Director of Stores at Macy's (2009–2013).
Taraneh Marciano
LinkedInExperience: SVP, General Counsel at Saks Fifth Avenue · Saks Global
Former SVP, General Counsel at Saks Fifth Avenue (2023–2024), a role her profile says made her a member of the executive leadership team, providing strategic counsel on growth, innovation and operational excellence in retail operations. Her profile also lists her as SVP, General Counsel, Saks Global from 2021 with no end date, and as VP, Associate General Counsel at Saks Global (2021–2023).
Thomas Matthews
LinkedInExperience: Group Senior Vice President Corporate Administration Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer · Saks Fifth Avenue
Former Group Senior Vice President Corporate Administration Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at Saks Fifth Avenue (2006–2009), a role his profile says included oversight of operations, logistics and international supply chain, and asset protection; he is also listed as Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer there (1993–2009). President of Norma Kamali Inc./KamaliKulture since 2013.
Choose the right perspective
Match the executive's function and time at Saks Fifth Avenue to your question, since practices at a retailer change over the years. Former CEOs suit questions about overall strategy, while senior vice presidents suit questions about stores, planning, marketing or people operations.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How should a luxury retailer divide investment between flagship stores, regional stores and ecommerce?
- 02What makes merchandise planning work when brand partners, stores and online channels all compete for inventory?
- 03How do you keep service standards consistent across dozens of luxury stores?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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