In Response To Significant Growth, Benchmark Brands Launches Talent Initiative For Its FootSmart Business

ATLANTA, June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Benchmark Brands, http://benchmarkbrands.com, which owns and operates FootSmart, the country's leading direct-to-consumer retailer of foot health and comfort footwear, announces the launch of a Talent Asset Management initiative and appoints Thana Sakas to lead it.  As Vice President of Talent Asset Management, Sakas will lead Benchmark's talent strategy as it enters the foot race for the country's premier online retail talent.  

Talent Asset Management Leadership In Place 
Sakas brings more than 20 years of demonstrated experience within talent management and consulting. She comes to Benchmark Brands from Lee Hecht Harrison where she served as SVP and General Manager of the company's third largest U.S. office. Sakas also spent five years with Accenture and several years with Northgate Arinso where she led the company's HR Consulting Practice throughout North America. At Benchmark Brands, Sakas serves as a member of executive management and key advisor to the CEO, responsible for all aspects of Talent Asset Management and HR.  

"We recognize there is a nuclear war for talent in the eCommerce space," says Alan Beychok, President and CEO of Benchmark Brands.  "Our FootSmart brand continues to experience double-digit growth, and it is clear that we need a more comprehensive and strategic approach to sourcing and retaining the country's best talent.  In Thana, we have the right leadership to drive a more metric-driven strategy."

Talent Asset Management Team Moves Quickly
Under Sakas' leadership, the Talent Asset Management Team lands two key leaders to support its talent agenda.

Elizabeth Peterson joins as Director, Talent Acquisition, where she is tasked with building a best-in-class talent acquisition capability. She comes to Benchmark Brands with a unique approach to recruiting and more than 10 years of corporate and agency experience.

Lynette Harris joins as Director, Talent Development, with the responsibility of building programs to support manager and leader development, delivering a career-enhancing experience for all Benchmark Brands talent and delivering on a new employee value proposition. A human resources professional for more than 15 years, she thrives in entrepreneurial and high growth environments.

"With our talent asset management initiative in place, not only are we recruiting the best talent, but we have an opportunity to put Benchmark Brands on the map as one of the Southeast's most progressive companies in one of the fast growing sectors: online retail," says Sakas.

SOURCE Benchmark Brands