Movers and Shakers

Musician's Friend founder Robert Eastman, who launched musical instruments and gear catalog 25 years ago, will step down as CEO of the company on Jan. 1.

President/chief operating officer Craig Johnson will assume the CEO role. Eastman will serve as chairman emeritus for the Medford, OR-based company, which has been a division of Guitar Center since 1999.


Baby products retailer Right Start has named Michael J. Edwards as its new president/CEO. He replaces Kenton Van Harten, who is stepping aside to become chairman of Right Start and to resume his role as a partner at private equity firm Hancock Park Associates, which owns Right Start.

Edwards will lead all brands under the Right Start umbrella, including Babystyle, Right Start, Cadeau and Tiny Ride. Most recently Edwards was president/CEO of Lucy Activewear, which was sold to VF Corp. in August 2007.


Lifestyle specialty retailer Urban Outfitters, which includes the Anthropologie, Free People, Terrain and Urban Outfitters brands, has appointed Andrew McLean to the newly created position of chief operating officer for the company's European operating divisions.

McLean, who most recently was president of Liz Claiborne’s outlet division, will be responsible for all European shared service operations, including finance, logistics, development and talent acquisition, for the retail brands Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters, as well as wholesale brands Free People and Leifsdottir.