Portland, OR-based Norm Thompson has undergone a minor corporate reshuffling. Rebecca “Becky” Jewett has relinquished her day-to-day duties as president/chief operating officer to become vice chairman. Chairman/CEO John Emrick, who hired Jewett seven years ago, has reassumed the day-to-day role of president at the multititle apparel, gifts, and home accessories mailer.
“Becky has been so busy in activities around the company–particularly external–that it was more reasonable for her to take on more of an external role,” Emrick says. “Her strength clearly is external, because she’s done a whole lot on sustainability [recycling efforts], and she’s influenced the whole industry to be more environmental.”
Jewett also recently testified before Congress on postal reform on behalf of the catalog community. “She’s a dynamic speaker and a very influential person who can do an awful lot to help our company from this external position,” Emrick says. At the same time, he adds, Jewett will now have more time for her two young children.
As for Emrick’s returning to the role of president, “I’ve been semi-in and semi-out for almost 13 years now,” he says. “I’ve always been here but not involved in as much day to day. But it’s something I’ll be doing for the foreseeable future and enjoying it.”