Crate & Barrel CEO Doug Diemoz has stepped down without explanation, a company spokesperson confirmed to the Chicago Tribune.
The paper reports that Diemoz is in the midst of a lawsuit with rival firm Restoration Hardware, where he was recruited from in 2015. The lawsuit alleges that Diemoz and Kimberly Ahlheim, another Restoration executive hired away by Crate & Barrel, committed trade secret misappropriation and contract violations related to a food service concept at its stores.
An internal memo obtained by the Tribune said Neela Montgomery, an executive board member at Crate & Barrel parent company Otto Group, would assume most of Diemoz’s responsibilities. She will work closely with Steve Woodward, president and chief merchant, COO Mike Relich and the rest of the executive team.
In 2015 Diemoz replaced Sascha Bopp, who had been CEO of Crate & Barrel since 2012.